Aramco, Honeywell, and KAUST Signs Crude-to-Chemicals Technology Agreement

Aramco, Honeywell, and King Abdullah University of Science and Technology (KAUST) have signed a Joint Development Agreement (JDA) to co-develop a next-generation direct Crude-to-Chemicals (CTC) technology.

The collaboration will focus on developing and scaling up the full CTC process. This initiative aims to significantly reduce both capital and operating costs associated with CTC conversion.

The new CTC pathway is designed to extract significant value from each barrel of crude oil by converting it directly into light olefins and other high-demand chemicals. The innovative CTC process concept is expected to improve fuel efficiency, carbon utilization, and process economics—allowing for more efficient and cost-effective production at scale.

The collaboration supports Saudi Arabia’s Vision 2030 by helping to advance economic diversification, build national research and technology capabilities, and strengthen the Kingdom’s position across the petrochemicals industry. It represents a strategic alignment among industrial know-how, academic excellence, and market ambition — delivering a platform for high-impact innovation.