A SYMPOSIUM ON CATALYST OPERATIONS IN REFINING PETROLEUM AND PETROCHEMICALS WAS INAUGURATED HERE TODAY. THE SYMPOSIUM IS ORGANIZED BY THE RESEARCH INSTITUTE OF KING FAHD UNIVERSITY FOR PETROLEUM AND MINERALS, IN COOPERATION WITH THE JAPANESE PETROLEUM INSTITUTE. SPEAKING ON THE OCCASION, DR KHALED BIN SULTAN, THE DIRECTOR OF KING FAHD UNIVERSITY FOR PETROLEUM AND MINERALS, HIGHLIGHTED THE EXISTING COOPERATION BETWEEN THE UNIVERSITY AND JAPAN IN THE DEVELOPMENT OF PETROLEUM REFINERIES. ON HIS PART, SACHIO ASAWAK, THE HEAD OF THE JAPANESE DELEGATION, SAID THE ECONOMIC AND INDUSTRIAL ACTIVITIES IN JAPAN DEPEND ON PETROLEUM. HE NOTED THAT JAPAN'S ENTIRE REQUIREMENTS OF PETROLEUM ARE IMPORTED, AND ABOUT 90 PERCENT OF THESE IMPORTS ARE FROM THE MIDDLE EAST. 'THE KINGDOM OF SAUDI ARABIA IS ONE OF THE MOST IMPORTANT PETROLEUM EXPORTING COUNTRIES TO JAPAN', HE SAID. HE UNDERLINED THE IMPORTANCE OF ORGANIZING THE SYMPOSIUM ANNUALLY IN THE KINGDOM.
