Oman Oil and Orpic Group inaugurated on Aril 1 the Sohar Refinery Improvement Project (SRIP), Oman Observer reported.

The inauguration occurred under the presence of Mohammed Al Rumhy, Minister of Oil and Gas, Chairman of the Board of Directors and a number of ministers, and representatives of the State and Shura Councils.

The $2.7 billion project is expected to add around 82,000 barrels per day (b/d) to the current capacity of 116,000 b/d, which will increase the total capacity to around 198,000 b/d.

“The project represents a significant economic and strategic importance for the refinery and petroleum industries in the Sultanate…. Aside from its immediate commercial benefits, SRIP also has an impact on other important areas of national economic development such as In Country Value (ICV) creation, employment generation, and SME support,” Al Rumhy said.

The SRIP is expected to achieve a 70% increase in fuel production, 90% for diesel, 37% for gasoline, 93% for kerosene, 93% for jet fuel, 91% for LPG, 175% for naphtha, and 44% for propylene.

The project contributes to enhancing the environmental performance of the Sohar Refinery and overcoming the challenges resulting from the changing quality of the crude oil mix.