Oman News and Analysis
News
Oman to study new $3-4bn petrochemicals complex
Head of downstream operator says new steam cracker and plastics units under consideration – report
Oman invites bids for electricity project
Work will involve replacing substation in northern grid station
Oman crude output drops 2.1 per cent in April
Exports marginally up as China represents almost half of total figure
Contractors prepare bids for Mirbat – Hasik road
Upgrade work will be done in Dhofar Governorate
Bids submitted for Oman rail consultancy contract
A total of 12 companies are in the running for the contract
Contractors prepare bids for Muscat palace underpass
Tunnel will serve the Bait al-Baraka on the outskirts of Muscat
Omani contractors jostle for airport maintenance facility contract
Firms submitted technical offers for airport maintenance contract in October last year
Omani investment firm considers high-altitude resort
Sundus Investment Projects may build luxury resort on Omani mountain of Jebel al-Akhdar
Increase in power demand is a major challenge in Oman
Growth in demand expected in the northern and southern regions of Oman
Energy policy governance needed to tackle Oman power challenges
A single ministry responsible for Oman’s energy would provide more coherence
Oman extends deadline on Sohar refinery expansion
Prequalified companies asked to submit bids by 20 May for major downstream scheme
Duqm port targets large project cargo and bulk minerals markets
Commercial operations started at the Oman port in March
Investors invited to develop second Duqm housing project
First phase of Frontier Town in Duqm almost complete
Duqm now Oman Oil Company’s top priority
Organisation has $15bn of projects planned at Duqm
Takamul signs seawater cooling outfall deal with Duqm authority
Project will be owned and operated by the Centralised Utilities Company
Oman’s third refinery to be complete by end-2017
Project will drive investment and employment
Sohar refinery restarted after 50-day turnaround
Wet gas scrubber still offline due to fire on 11 March, restart expected in August
Analysis
Regulation to increase Oman aggregate prices
Government is trying to resolve issue of illegal quarrying
Middle East steel demand set to surge in 2014
Uncertainty over major steel projects could leave region a significant importer over next decade
Orpic: MEED Assessment
Orpic plays an essential part in Muscat’s ambitions to diversify its economy
Two Omani power plants begin commercial operation
Sohar 2 and Barka 3 independent power projects add 1,500MW to Oman’s capacity
Haitham Abdullah al-Kharusi
Haitham Abdullah al-Kharusi is vice-president, consumer, Omantel
Oman oil and gas project market in strong start to year
Over $500m in contracts awarded in first quarter but landmark projects to come later in year
Dan Blanchard
Dan Blanchard is vice-president, Middle East operations and general manager of Oman, BP
Comment
Energy body the next bold step
A single energy ministry to oversee Oman’s power demands would give the sector more coherence
Gas find could provide lifeline for Oman
Oman’s latest gas discovery could help the sultanate avoid a looming gas supply crunch as its existing reserves go into decline
Middle East invests in airport expansion
Authorities are investing in new airport terminals and concourses to meet rising passenger demand
GCC firms reduce refinancing risk
Gulf corporates’ credit-worthiness improves as debt is slowly repaid, but underlying risks still remain
New oil recovery techniques put Oman ahead
Enhanced oil recovery techniques have fuelled a resurgence in Oman’s hydrocarbons sector
Omanis vital to new oil projects
Oil and gas contractors may struggle to find enough skilled staff to meet requirements for new sector-specific Omanisation scheme
Time for Oman to accelerate reform
Reforms announced in 2011 did not go far enough and if progress is to continue a clear agenda must be set
Learning lessons from Malaysia
The Gulf’s Islamic banks could learn much from the global leader of sharia-compliant finance – Malaysia
