BP and SOCAR Turkey have signed a heads of agreement (HoA) to explore the creation of a joint venture to construct and operate a petrochemicals complex in Turkey.

This proposed facility will be built in Aliaga of the western part of Turkey. Once operational, it is expected to produce 1.25 million tonnes per annum (tpa) of purified terephthalic acid (PTA), 840,000tpa of paraxylene (PX) and 340,000tpa of benzene.

PTA is used in the manufacture of polyesters, which has several uses, including food and beverage containers, packaging materials, fabrics, films, and other consumer and industry applications.

With the signing of the HoA, the two firms expect to take up design work for the facility, which will enable integration of feedstock supplies from the STAR refinery located close by and Petkim petrochemicals complex.

SOCAR Turkey owns STAR refinery and Petkim complex.



SOCAR Turkey board chairman Vagif Aliyev said: “We entered the Turkish market in 2008 with the acquisition of Petkim and since then have realised giant projects such as the STAR refinery, TANAP, Petlim Container Terminal and Petkim Wind Power Station.

“The area covering all of SOCAR Turkey’s projects in Aliaga has recently become the first private industrial zone in Turkey. The immediate proximity to the feedstock and infrastructure provided by SOCAR’s other facilities will contribute significantly to the competitive power of the new facility.

“It will not only increase our share in Turkey’s petrochemical markets, but it will also help to reduce Turkey’s imports of these products, hence reducing the foreign trade deficit.”

“Expanding our immense refining and petrochemical complex, built at the gateway to world markets on the Aegean coast of Turkey, we aim to continue to contribute to the economies of the two brother countries, Turkey and Azerbaijan.”

BP global aromatics unit CEO Luis Sierra said: “If taken forward, this would be the largest integrated PTA, PX and aromatics complex in the Western Hemisphere and BP’s first major new aromatics platform since our Zhuhai site in China opened nearly 20 years ago.

“The combination of BP’s leading proprietary technology and integration with SOCAR’s new refinery could create an outstanding platform to serve Turkey’s growing polyester packaging and textiles industry. We look forward to drawing on the strengths of both BP and SOCAR to explore the creation of a highly competitive facility.”

The two firms expect to work towards a potential final investment decision next year. This will lead to the beginning of construction of the new facility in 2023.

SOCAR Turkey CEO Zaur Gahramanov said: “This proposed new investment is a ‘win-win’ situation for both SOCAR and Turkey.

“It will not only increase our share in Turkey’s petrochemical markets, but it will also help to reduce Turkey’s imports of these products, hence reducing the foreign trade deficit. All of our projects in Turkey are planned with this goal in mind.”