The UK’s BP has been awarded a contract by Oman International Petrochemical Industry Company (Ompet) to provide process technology for its planned polyester plant in Sohar, Oman.

The contract is the first time BP has licensed its purified terephthalic acid (PTA) technology in the Middle East.

Ompet, a joint venture of Oman Oil Company (OOC), the local Takamul Investment Company and South Korea’s LG Corporation, is planning to build a plant with the capacity to produce 1.1 million tonnes a year (t/y) of PTA and 500,000 t/y of polyethylene terephthalate (PET).

PTA is an intermediate chemical to produce PET, which is used to make plastic drinks bottles and other packaging.

“BP will provide a wide range of technical and knowledge transfer services, as well as a commitment to assist Omani staff within the Ompet joint venture,” says Daniel Leonardi, vice president for technology and licensing at BP Petrochemicals.

Germany’s Uhde Investa-Fischer has reportedly been selected to provide the technology for the PET plant.

Australia’s WorleyParsons was appointed as project management consultant (PMC) for the EPC phase.

The project’s front-end engineering and design (feed) study was completed in the first quarter of 2015 and the tender for the engineering, procurement and construction (EPC) contract is expected to be floated later in 2015.