RIYADH: Saudi Arabia’s Aramco will invest $7 billion in a giant Malaysian oil refinery project, Prime Minister Najib Razak said Monday, as he declared ties with the kingdom were “at an all-time high.” The deal between Aramco and Malaysia’s Petronas for the $27 billion project will be signed on Feb. 28, the prime minister said. “This is a huge investment and is very significant,” said Najib.
The vast scheme under construction in the southern state of Johor near the Singapore border is known as the Refinery and Petrochemical Integrated Development Project. It is being led by state energy firm Petronas, which said last month development is more than 50 per cent complete, with the project set to come online in 2019. Najib made the announcement on the second day of a four-day state visit to Malaysia by Saudi Arabia’s King Salman. Najib told reporters: “The visit will cement and put our relationship on a strong trajectory.” He added the Saudi head of state was “satisfied and happy” the agreement would be signed.
