Italian refinery group Saras (Milan) has agreed to acquire some downstream processing units of the Sarroch, Sardinia production complex of compatriot energy group Eni (Rome; www.eni.com), which also supply its plastics subsidiary Versalis (Milan; www.versalis.com).

Saras said the units – which according to the Plasteurope.com database Polyglobe (www.polyglobe.net) include 50,000 t/y of benzene. 100,000 t/y of paraxylene and 90,000 t/y of propylene – already have been integrated into the operations of its subsidiary Sarlux (Sarroch; www.sarlux.it).

Without providing financial details, Saras said the acquisition will strengthen the competitive positioning and the profitability of the Sarroch industrial complex. The Saras refinery at the site near Cagliari is one of Europe’s largest.