OQ, the Omani integrated refining and petrochemicals conglomerate, reported that its refineries recorded a sharp decline in its production of motor fuels and jet fuels, in addition to other refined products during H1 2020, according to Oman Daily Observer.

These results were driven from the pandemic’s lockdown measures as well as prolonged economic slump which affected the consumption of fuel.

The figures released by the National Center for Statistics and Information (NCSI) showed that the production of M-91 fell 32% to 5.09 million barrels (mmbbl) compared to 7.528 mmbbl for the same period in 2019. In addition, Premium M-95 production declined 12% to 5.793 mmbbl from 6.580 mmbbl in 2019.

Furthermore, jet fuel production slumped 40% during the first six months of 2020, reaching 4.455 mmbbl down from 7.443 mmbbl last year as a result of airports shutdown. Liquefied petroleum gas (LPG) production declined 25% during the same period from 3.790 mmbbl in 2019 to 2.827 mmbbl in 2020.

On the other hand, gasoline production recorded a 47.6% rise in June compared to May. Moreover, diesel production raised 16% during the H1 to 16.711 mmbbl from 13.524 mmbbl during the same period in 2019.