Omani state refiner Orpic says FEED for the $3.6bn Liwa Plastics project is complete, enabling it to target the award of engineering, procurement and construction contracts in 4Q 2015. The plant will boost Orpic’s standing as a global petchems player and help diversify Oman’s economy, CEO Musab al-Mahruqi says.

Oman’s downstream expansion – by raising Sohar refinery crude distillation capacity from 116,000 b/d to 197,000 b/d and building a 230,000 b/d refinery at Duqm, plus a 1.6mn tons/year packaging materials plant and the Liwa plastics project at Sohar – is intended to generate additional value from Omani oil and gas, given that both export volumes and prices have been under pressure. (CONTINUED - 626 WORDS)