Canada's SNC Lavalin has been awarded a contract by the local Project Development & Management International (PDMI) to design and deliver a chlor-alkali polyvinyl chloride resins (PVC) plant in Oman.

The greenfield project will be located 150 kilometres southeast of the capital Muscat and the capital cost is expected to be about $1.5bn.

SNC Lavalin will provide long-term project support, from concept development to commissioning, carrying out the initial engineering, master planning, process technology evaluation and selection to support financial investment decision approvals.

The engineering, procurement and construction management (EPCM) contract is expected in the first quarter of 2019. SNC Lavalin will execute the complete design and delivery, working alongside Omani contractors to maximise in-country value.

SNC Lavalin will also support the operations and maintenance of the plant, which is expected to produce about 250,000 tonnes a-year (t/y) of PVC for export to Asia, and around 140,000 t/y of sodium hydroxide (caustic soda) to support local industries.