Muscat, Oman —The first international downstream exhibition and conference, Oman Refining and Petrochemicals Exhibition and Conference (ORPEC), organized by Omanexpo and global organization World Refining Association (WRA), is set from March 16 to 18 at the Oman International Exhibition Center.
The event is spearheaded by Oman Oil Company (OOC) and Oman Oil Refineries and Petroleum Industries Company (Orpic), the biggest entities in the Middle East’s refining and petrochemical sector.
The oil and gas industry in Oman has always been the key driver of the country’s economy. While exploration and enhanced oil recovery (EOR) activities continue to take center stage, the government is placing equal attention on the refining and processing of petrochemicals and crude oil and distribution of its by-products, creating investment and employment opportunities for downstream industries, and boosting downstream facilities. It has also invested in multi-million projects such as the Duqm Refinery, Muscat-Sohar Pipeline Project and Liwa Plastics Project.
Eihab A. Abutaha, CEO of Communications, SABCO Group, says “An established downstream industry felicitates building a value-added portfolio harnessing in-country value and wealth creation with an array of production and investment opportunities. ORPEC will become a fundamental and powerful platform for industry leaders and players to engage and discuss the challenges and opportunities posed by the value-driven downstream industry.”
Government-owned Oman Oil Company, the national flagship company, plays a significant role in seeking areas of investment within Oman and outside of Oman, the development of oil and gas-based industries and other energy and energy-related projects in cooperation with global industry players.
Oman Oil Company’s participation, along with its subsidiaries Duqm Refinery, Salalah Methanol Company, OXEA and Oman India Fertiliser Company (OMIFCO), follows its economic development objectives to pursue avenues that will help create business and encourage investment and to diversify the economy by investing in a variety of industrial and commercial activities within the global energy sector.
Orpic, one of the largest companies in Oman, serves 100 per cent of Oman’s fuel requirements. Through its four industrial plants, it aims to build an integrated refining and petrochemical business and attract private and foreign investment.
Adding further value to the exhibition is the welcome address of His Excellency Salim Al Aufi, undersecretary of the Ministry of Oil & Gas in the concurrent two-day conference.
Speakership roles will be taken by Orpic’s Henk Pauw, general manager, Liwa Plastics Project, who will provide insight on the US$ 3-billion project; Nofal Al Saidi, general manager, Human Resource Services, will speak about Talent Development in the downstream workforce; Logistics general manager Andres Suarez will share an overview of the US$ 200-million Muscat-Sohar Pipeline Project (MSPP), showcasing Oman’s potential to become a logistics hub.
Nader Abbas, general manager, Omanexpo says “Given the overwhelming response to ORPEC even at its nascent stage, we are assured of having a highly successful and well-attended event. To date, we have more than 100 companies from various downstream segments and expecting more in the coming weeks. We also have Italy, China, Malaysia, India and Iran companies representing dedicated national pavilions.”
ORPEC’s sponsor roster includes Worley Parsons, STS, SeaCliff, DB Schenker, CB&I, Albemarle, Grace, Thyssenkrupp and Linde.
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Contact: Melissa Daleja
t: +968 24660122 f: +968 24660125/126
Email: melissa.daleja@omanexpo.com
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