Dear LubesnGreases,

I write to you on behalf of Saudi Aramco Base Oil Company, or Luberef, to express our company position with regards to production delays for the expansion project at our base oil plant in Yanbual Bahr, which were reported in the November issue of LubesnGreases as well as the Oct. 19 issue of Lube Report. As cited in our rebuttal [published as a clarification in the Nov. 16 issue of Lube Report], it is our company policy that we do not publicly discuss precise causes for any delays incurred in the project. The statement made in your article about the delay being due to financial problems of its main contractor is conjecture and expresses your staffs personal opinion and analysis.

Furthermore, Luberef wishes to state that it continues to work closely with the main contractor to achieve the joint target of project completion and has no more than a normal level of concern about prospects for its project.

Sincerely,

Gerard Heaton

Manager, Sales & Marketing

Saudi Aramco Base Oil Company – Luberef