FEED contract awarded for marine fuels terminal at Oman’s Shinas Port

MUSCAT: International engineering and consultancy firm Bilfinger has secured a front-end engineering design (FEED) role in the development of a major marine fuels terminal planned at Shinas Port on Oman’s North Al Batinah coast.
Germany-headquartered Bilfinger said it has signed an agreement with Shinas Marine Fuels & Oil Terminals SPC (SMFOT) for the delivery of Phase 1 FEED consultancy services for the project, which is expected to strengthen marine fuel infrastructure at the strategically located port.
Oman’s Ministry of Transport, Communications and Information Technology (MTCIT), which separately announced the engineering and basic-design agreement earlier this month, cited a targeted first-phase capacity of around 200,000 tonnes per month, equivalent to 2.4 million tonnes annually.
Bilfinger said its engineering and consultancy work would help define the project’s technical and commercial framework, supporting the development of what it described as a modern and sustainable marine fuels facility in Oman.
The company said the project is designed to help deliver cleaner marine fuels and support regional emissions-reduction initiatives.
“A key element is the Desulphurization Unit, which contributes to cleaner marine fuels, supporting regional efforts to reduce emissions and promote more sustainable maritime operations,” Bilfinger said.
A signing ceremony was held during the Gulf Green Mobility Forum in Salalah recently in the presence of HH Sayyid Marwan bin Turki Al Said, Governor of Dhofar, and Said bin Hamoud Al Maawali, Minister of Transport, Communications and Information Technology. Bilfinger was represented by Muntaser Al Hashmi, Sales Director Middle East.
The SMFOT development comes as Oman moves to expand the commercial and logistics role of Shinas Port, located on the Sea of Oman coast in North Al Batinah Governorate.
Earlier this month, MTCIT signed a 39-year agreement with QS Maritime LLC (QSS Maritime) to manage, operate and develop the port, building on a framework agreement reached with the company in August 2023. QSS Maritime subsequently took over operations, with the new operating arrangement formally launched in January 2024.
Under the long-term concession, Shinas is slated for further infrastructure development and increased operating capacity, alongside stronger links with regional ports. Planned initiatives include digitalised port operations, solar generation and battery storage, shore power for vessels, electrification of cargo-handling equipment, charging infrastructure and water-reuse and waste-management systems.
The investments form part of efforts to broaden Shinas Port’s role as a maritime and logistics hub serving northern Oman and regional shipping.