Duqm refinery set to revolutionise oil and gas industry in GCC
Duqm - Guided by a vision to build a globally recognised world-class refinery business fuelling prosperity for Oman and the region, Duqm Refinery and Petrochemical Industries Company (OQ8) is set to revolutionise the oil and gas industry in the GCC.
The joint venture between Oman’s OQ Group and Kuwait Petroleum International (Q8), the largest collaboration of its kind between GCC countries, was inaugurated in Duqm on Wednesday under the auspices of His Majesty Sultan Haitham bin Tarik and Sheikh Mishal al Ahmad al Jaber al Sabah, Emir of Kuwait.
Speaking to Kuwait News Agency (KUNA), David Bird, CEO of OQ8, said that it is a landmark event in the progress of the energy sector.
“This ambitious project testifies to the robust strategic vision for fuelling economic growth, and efficacy of the cooperation between the State of Kuwait and the Sultanate of Oman,” he said.
Duqm Refinery, based on commitment to excellence and sustainability, will advance socio-economic development and act as an inspiring leader in the energy sector, he pointed out.
The refinery, one of the stateof-the-art refineries in the Middle East and North Africa, will be a significant contributor to the national economies of both countries and a major player in the global oil sector, Bird affirmed.
As the first cross-border refining investment in the Middle East, OQ8 signifies a milestone in regional cooperation. The project enables the refining of crude oil extracted from different countries in the Sultanate of Oman, reinforcing the economic integration and collaboration between Oman and Kuwait. This pioneering approach underscores the project’s significance in fostering bilateral relations and driving economic growth.
The refinery’s unique location in the Special Economic Zone at Duqm, overlooking the Arabian Sea and the Indian Ocean, positions it as a key player in the region’s energy landscape.
On her part, Naseha al Falahya, CEO at OQ8 for human resources, technology and labour culture, said the refinery provides the best training for national cadres from Oman and Kuwait to help them master the latest technologies.
The Kuwaiti and Omani cadres represent 60% of the workforce of the refinery, she said, voicing hope to raise the percentage to 80% in the coming years.
“With workers from 32 nationalities, the refinery is a unique example of collective action and positive work environment,” Naseha noted.
“This project is one of the gigantic joint ventures by the two Gulf countries in the oil sector; it will contribute to economic recovery in both countries, attract more investment to the region and create more job opportunities,” she added.
Located in Duqm, Al Wusta governorate, in central Oman, nearly 550km south of Muscat, the refinery has a designed capacity to process around 230,000 barrels of crude oil per day with diesel, jet fuel, naphtha and LPG being primary products.
OQ8, one of the state-of-the-art refineries in the Middle East and North Africa, will be a significant contributor to the national economies of both countries and a major player in the global oil sector
DAVID BIRD