Duqm refinery likely to begin operations by end of 2023

Oman News Agency

Oman-based Duqm Refinery and Petrochemical Industries Company has started trial operations for the crude oil distillation unit at Duqm refinery.

The move will pave the way for the launch of all Duqm refinery units, state-run Oman News Agency reported.

The refinery has a capacity of 230,000 barrels per day, and its design is based on hydrocracking and petroleum coke units. It will produce liquefied petroleum gas, naphtha, jet fuel, diesel, sulphur and petroleum coke.

Duqm Refinery and Petrochemical Industries is a joint venture between state-owned energy investment firm OQ Group and Kuwait Petroleum International.

Hilal Ali Al Kharusi, CEO of the commercial, refining and petrochemical sector at OQ, said that the trial operation is “moving forward according to the set plan”.

He added that it will go through several phases before reaching maximum capacity, followed by commercial operation, which is expected by the end of 2023.

Al Kharusi stated that all support units in the project, which has reached a completion rate of 97.5 percent, have been operated.

The trial operation coincides with the progress made in OQ’s Ras Markaz crude oil storage project, which has completed the main construction works of its first phase and successfully received two crude oil ships.

Marafiq, a subsidiary of OQ, and Thai Gulf Energy Development have also completed the power and water station.

The station will provide 326 megawatts of electricity and 36,000 cubic meters of industrial water daily, supplying energy and water to the Duqm Refinery and Petrochemical Industries and the Oman Tank Terminal Company.