WATCHING THE WORLD UNEASE AMONG JAPANESE REFINERS

With Roger Vielvoye from London Japanese government backing for an expanded Japanese-Saudi Arabian joint venture to build refineries in both countries is causing unease among Japanese refiners not party to the deal. The joint venture among Saudi Arabian Oil Co., Nippon Oil Co., Nippon Mining, Caltex, and Arabian Oil Co. began life last year with plans to build a 300,000 b/d export refinery at Jubail in Saudi Arabia's eastern province and turn a mothballed 42,000 b/d refinery at Kudamatsu in