PEIE manages the Sohar Industrial Estate (SIE), which covers an area of 1,900 hectares. But Hameed Al-Mahdali, director general of SIE, sees future expansion as vital to meeting the requirements for industrial space in the area.

“We definitely have plans to look for land,” he says. “The land we have will not be enough for future demand.”

Options include expanding the SIE or securing land in the neighbouring towns of Liwa or Shinas.

SIE’s largest project is the 350,000 tonnes a year Sohar Aluminium smelting operation. This is due to start production in mid-2008. An area of land covering 742 hectares has been allocated for the development of a downstream aluminium industry cluster adjacent to the smelter.

The greater Sohar region has been earmarked by the government for major industrial development. This will be served by a large-scale port being developed by the Sohar Industrial Port Company.