Petromin has unveiled plans to bring a new blending plant on-stream by the middle of next year, helping to expand the leading Saudi Arabian lubricants firm's production capacity further.

The announcement came as the group unveiled its new logo and business strategies in Jeddah. At a ceremony attended by Arab News, Samir Nawar, Petromin's chief executive officer, declared that the new management team will be pushing through some "radical changes" in the months to come.

He added: "The new manufacturing plant and the new structures in place will ensure that the production and the marketing of quality petroleum products and automotive services will exceed the stakeholders' expectations."

The new plant is also likely to provide a local employment boost, with the government's Saudization programme ensuring that national workers will have access to downstream training to support the company's growth.

Petromin is owned jointly by Saudi Aramco and Mobil Investments, both of which have shown a strong commitment to training and development in the Middle Eastern state.

GetEnergy event for GCC countries November 2009