FUELLING GROWTH

ORPIC’s Muscat Sohar product pipeline and Al Jefnain Terminal is an important logistics project across the Sultanate which delivers more than 50 per cent of Oman’s fuel via the state-of-the-art storage facility in Al Jefnain. An OGR Report

Orpic Logistics Company, a joint venture between Orpic and CLH officially inaugurated one of its strategic growth projects, the Muscat Sohar Product Pipeline (MSPP) and the main fuel terminal in Al Jefnain, Wilayat of Al Seeb recently.

The event was held under the auspices of HE General Sultan bin Mohammed AL Nu’amani, Minister of the Royal Office and in the presence of a number of Ministers, members of the Board of Directors of Orpic, Their Excellencies, representatives of the State Council and Shura Council and community leaders.

Commenting on the occasion, HE Sultan bin Salim Al Habsi, Deputy Chairman of the Board of Governors of the Central Bank of Oman, and Deputy Chairman of Orpic Board of Directors said, “We are proud to witness the inauguration of one of the three important strategic growth projects undertaken by Orpic which is the Muscat Sohar Product Pipeline (MSPP) and Al Jefnain Terminal. The project comes in response to the strategic objectives set by the government for developing oil products logistics solu- tions in the Sultanate to meet the rapidly growing demand for fuels.”

The $336 million investment is an important logistics project across the Sultanate which delivers more than 50 per cent of Oman’s fuel via the state-ofthe-art storage facility in Al Jefnain. In addition to meeting the domestic future

demand for fuels, this project reduces pollution resulting from lower truck movements in Muscat by 70 per cent.

Ahmed Saleh Al Jahdhami, CEO, Orpic said “Muscat Sohar Products Pipeline and Al Jefnain Terminal project is the first of its kind being constructed in Oman – utilising a single pipeline to produce accurate product and bringing a new level of efficiency and lower costs to its business.”

“The project offers many social, economic and environmental benefits, including improved road safety, efficient fuel supply, and reduced pollution by lower movement of oil tanker trucks. On the In-country value (ICV) front, MSPP has contributed $ 149 million to Omani local purchases and SMEs, representing 44 per cent out of the total project cost,” Al Jahdhami added.

With around 170,000 m3 of storage capacity, the new terminal increases the nation’s storage capacity for refined products by 70 per cent. This additional capacity enhances the securing of fuel supply to the population.

Helping take fuel distribution efficiency in the Sultanate to the next level, the MSPP and Al Jefnain terminal project is a joint venture partnership between Orpic and Spanish firm Compañía Logística de Hidrocarburos (CLH). The latter has a formidable reputation in the European energy logistics industry going back 90 years. The CEO of CLH said, “The MSPP project is a significant landmark in the history of our company and we believe it will open the door to new opportunities. CLH is definitely committed to develop the Omani economy and talent and we hope we can do more things together both in Oman and in the region”.

The MSPP and Al Jefnain Terminal features a 290 KM pipeline which is connected by three sections of the pipeline network including a 10” multi-product pipeline of 45 kms length from Mina Al Fahal Refinery to Al Jefnain Terminal. The second pipeline is an 18” multiproduct pipeline of 220 kms length from Sohar Refinery to Al Jefnain Terminal. The last one is a 10” dedicated pipeline for jet fuel of 25-km length from Al Jefnain terminal to the new Muscat International Airport. The dedicated airport pipeline comes to support the expansion of the new Muscat International Airport in which jet fuel gets pumped directly from the terminal in Al Jefnain to the airport without requiring tanker trucks which ultimately increase the safety of jet fuel supply to the airport.

Additionally, the new terminal is equipped with 16 loading bays with capacity to load up to 700 trucks per day with products to be transported across petrol stations. Furthermore, the new terminal is supplied by two multiproduct and bidirectional pipelines connected to Orpic’s Sohar and Muscat Refineries, which are the safest and most efficient transport means for oil products for medium distances. The Muscat Sohar Product Pipeline and Al Jefnain Terminal constitutes state-of-the-art control systems with latest SCADA technology, leak detection, and telecommunications network and was constructed by Gulf Petrochemical Services (GPS).