Oman state firm OQ, formed from the merger of upstream firm Oman Oil (OOC) and refining and petrochemicals firm Orpic, on 10 May announced the start of commissioning its $6.7bn Liwa Plastics complex at Sohar 200km northwest of Muscat on the Gulf of Oman coast.

Liwa is centered on an 880,000 t/y mixed feed cracker, providing feedstock for two polyethylene plants totalling 800,000 t/y and a 215,000 t/y polypropylene plant. The complex includes 45,000 t/y butane-1 and 40,000 t/y methyl tertiary butyl ether (MTBE) units. (CONTINUED - 291 WORDS)