Orpic plays an essential part in Muscat’s ambitions to diversify its economy from a reliance on crude oil revenues and encourage downstream investment to create jobs for locals.

As well as supplying nearly all of the sultanate’s motoring fuel needs, Orpic’s petrochemicals operations add value to Oman’s oil resources and could play an important role in attracting further investment to the country.

The expansion of the Sohar refinery is overdue, as Orpic will not be able to keep up with growing fuel demand until the project comes onstream. The site’s polypropylene plant also cannot run at full capacity without increased supply of propylene.

Although Orpic is Oman’s leading petrochemicals producer, the government has backed other companies to lead the country’s downstream expansion, with OOC to use Orpic’s products as feedstock for plastics production. In time, Orpic will also have competition from a major refinery planned for Duqm.