OQ refinery arm inks pacts to supply marine fuel, petcoke

MUSCAT: OQ Refineries and Petroleum Industries — part of OQ Group — has signed two commercial agreements covering the annual supply of 48 million litres of marine fuel and the sale of its entire petroleum coke (petcoke) output of 450,000 tonnes, in arrangements that could strengthen domestic fuel distribution and provide an outlet for a major refinery by-product.
The agreements were announced on Wednesday during the company's 2026 Customer Engagement Forum in Muscat.
Under the first agreement, OQ will supply 48 million litres of marine fuel annually, with the arrangement intended to support the development of Oman's ship-bunkering market.
A key feature is the opportunity for small and medium enterprises (SMEs) to obtain marine fuel directly from OQ without relying on intermediaries.
The arrangement could give participating businesses a more direct route to fuel supplies, although the company has not disclosed the pricing terms, the number of businesses expected to benefit or the ports where the fuel will be distributed.
Marine fuel supply is an important service for commercial vessels, connecting refining operations with shipping, port activity and maritime logistics.
The second agreement covers the sale of 450,000 tonnes of petcoke annually, representing the company's entire stated production of the refinery by-product.
Petcoke is produced during oil refining and can be used as an industrial fuel or as a raw material in certain manufacturing processes, depending on its quality and specifications.
The agreements were signed during the forum, held under the theme “Growing Together”, under the auspices of Mahmoud bin Abdullah al Owaini, Secretary-General of the Ministry of Finance.
Al Muhallab bin Said al Saidi, Vice-President of Commercial Operations at OQ Refineries and Petroleum Industries, emphasised the importance of cooperation with customers and commercial partners in developing business opportunities and addressing operational challenges.
The company said the agreements formed part of its efforts to expand commercial partnerships and increase participation by local businesses in the energy sector's supply chain. — ONA