Oman Oil follows Aramco lead with IPO plan

Muscat could also consider strategic partners to invest alongside share sale, as Vienna OPEC+ meeting looms

The state-owned Oman Oil Co. expects to list between 20 to 25 percent of its shares in an initial public offering (IPO) by the end of next year, Oman’s Oil Minister Mohammed Al-Rumhi said on Wednesday.

It would become the second national oil company in the Gulf to raise cash this way after Saudi Aramco’s planned IPO later this month to help diversify theKingdom’s economy away from oil. Oman is trying to raise funds from asset sales because lower oil prices have led it to pile up debt over the past few years.

It posted a budget deficit of 1.545 billion Omani rials ($4 billion) in January to September 2019. Speaking to reporters at an industry event in Dubai, Al-Rumhi said financial advisers for the deal had already been assigned, but he did not name them.

He added Oman could also consider inviting strategic partners to invest in the company alongside the IPO process.

Oman plans to invest more than $20 billion in downstream operations in the next five years, he said.

“Privatising helps in reducing the budget deficit without increasing the debt level but it is not a solution,” said Zeina Rizk, director of fixed income asset management at Dubai’s Arqaam Capital, adding that reforms were necessary to put the economy on a sustainable path. Oman’s economy is highly dependent on hydrocarbons — deriving about 35 percent of its gross domestic product, 60 percent of exports, and 70 percent of fiscal receipts from hydrocarbon products, S&P Global Ratings said in a recent report.

From 2020 Oman’s crude oil production will gradually increase to hit 1.1 million barrels per day (bpd) by 2022, from about 0.97 million bpd in 2019, S&P added. Rumhi said he hoped the production cuts agreement between The Organization of the Petroleum Exporting Countries (OPEC) and its allies would be extended.

Asked if deeper cuts would help stabilize the market, Rumhi said “if needed, whatever is needed I am sure they (OPEC) will make the right decision.”

OPEC and a number of affiliated allies, including Russia and Oman, who comprise a group known as OPEC+, will meet in Vienna on Thursday and Friday.

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Oman’s crude oil production is expected to hit 1.1 million barrels per day (bpd) by 2022, from about 0.97 million bpd in 2019.

Al-Ruhmi said he hoped the production cuts agreement between OPEC and its allies would be extended.

Shutterstock Like Saudi Arabia’s Aramco, Oman’s state oil company is set for an initial public offering, as the Gulf state tries to raise sales of assets as a result of lower oil prices and spiralling debt.