Mission

• Develop technologies for clean fuels, petrochemicals, and polymers
• Maximize value of petroleum by converting to high-demand products: light olefins and aromatics
• Provide technical support to oil refineries and petrochemical plants (catalyst screening, and selection)

Vision

To be a leading research center in petroleum refining & petrochemicals through innovative basic and applied research within the Technology Readiness Levels (TRLs) of 1-3. 

Facts and Figures

• CRAC has over four decades of R&D-business experience.
• Completed more than 100 projects for major clients, mainly Saudi Aramco. Other clients include Sabic, Honeywell UOP and Sinopec RIPP.
• Annually, CRAC researchers issue more than 30 publications in refereed journals and 10 patents
• Participates in graduate studies, supervision and training

History

• The Research Institute, an integral part of KFUPM, was established in 1979 to foster fundamental and applied research
• Among the original technical divisions of the Research Institute was Petroleum and Gas Technology Division which covered the petroleum upstream and downstream research activities
•  As a part of reorganization in 1997, the downstream research activities were brought under a new center named as Center for Refining and Petrochemicals (CRP)
• The Center was renamed as the Center for Refining and Advanced Chemicals (CRAC) as a part of reorganization in July 2021