Oman’s refinery output surges in first eight months of 2018

Muscat – The production of regular grade petrol (M-91) by Omani refineries surged 38 per cent to 9.27mn barrels in the first eight months of 2018 compared to the same period of last year.

The output of super grade petrol (M-95), however, declined 23 per cent to 8.03mn barrels during January-August period of 2018, according to the data released by the National Centre for Statistics and Information (NCSI). The sharp rise in production of M-91 was supported by a significant growth in demand. Of total production of M-91, 8.38mn barrels were sold in the domestic market, while domestic sales of M-95 fell 25 per cent to 7.77mn barrels.

The NCSI report showed that the diesel output at Oman’s refineries rose 24 per cent to 19.91mn barrels, while aviation fuel production jumped 134 per cent to 9.17mn barrels during the first eight months of 2018. Production of liquefied petroleum gas (LPG) also rose 29 per cent to 4.11mn barrels during this period. Domestic sales of diesel stood steady at 11.02mn barrels during January-August period, while domestic sales of aviation fuel oil stood at 3.17mn barrels during the same period. LPG sales within the country rose 11 per cent to 1.7mn barrels.

The output of petrochemicals by Orpic refineries also showed a marked growth in the first eight months of this year. Production of benzene surged 17 per cent to 156,000 tonnes, while output of paraxylene and polypropylene rose 14 per cent and five per cent to 451,000 tonnes and 180,000 tonnes, respectively.