Yanbu Will receive much-needed natural gas supplies within two years as work progresses on a 1,200km pipeline from Shedgum in the Eastern Province.

The pipeline will initially carry about 300 million cu ft per day of gas when it is completed in 2003.

The pipeline will parallel another line carrying oil from East to West in the Kingdom. It will also run parallel to the natural gas liquids pipeline.

The availability of gas in Yanbu will release a large quantity of ethane, which is currently used as fuel, so that it can be utilised as feedstock for petrochemical factories and the fuel needs of new industrial projects. Gas is currently planned for use in three new industrial projects in Yanbu.