MUSCAT: Oman has launched the engineering, procurement and construction (EPC) tender process for the next phase of development of the Ras Markaz Crude Oil Park, inviting qualified Omani and international contractors to prequalify for one of the Sultanate of Oman's largest oil storage infrastructure projects.
The move advances the next phase of the Ras Markaz development in the Special Economic Zone at Duqm (SEZAD), a strategic energy logistics project designed to strengthen Oman's role in global crude oil storage and trading while supporting the country's Vision 2040 economic diversification strategy.
Oman Tank Terminal Company (OTTCO), a subsidiary of OQ Group, said it had opened an expression of interest (EOI) process to identify contractors with the technical expertise, financial capability and industry experience needed to undertake the EPC contract.
The company said eligible bidders must have a proven track record in executing EPC projects in the oil and gas sector, particularly crude oil storage terminals, tank farms and other large-scale petroleum infrastructure. Omani firms are also required to be registered with the Ministry of Commerce, Industry and Investment Promotion.
The deadline for submission of expressions of interest is August 4, 2026, with detailed qualification requirements to be issued during the prequalification stage.
The EPC package is expected to cover infrastructure that will support the continued expansion of the Ras Markaz Crude Oil Park, which has been developed as a major crude oil storage and logistics hub serving regional and international energy markets.
Located on a 40-square-kilometre site near Duqm Port, the facility is positioned outside the Strait of Hormuz, offering oil producers, traders and refiners direct access to shipping routes linking Asia, Africa and Europe. The location is intended to provide customers with greater flexibility and security in storing and transporting crude oil.
The project has the potential to accommodate up to 200 million barrels of crude oil storage at full development. Its existing infrastructure includes eight storage tanks with a combined capacity of 5.2 million barrels, integrated marine loading and unloading facilities, subsea pipeline networks and onshore systems for handling imports, exports and crude blending.
The terminal also incorporates produced water treatment facilities, advanced operational control systems, power infrastructure and security installations built to international standards, enabling it to support a wide range of crude oil grades and large-scale commercial operations.
The expansion is expected to reinforce Duqm's position as one of the region's emerging energy and industrial hubs, complementing investments in refining, petrochemicals, ports and logistics infrastructure aimed at attracting international energy companies and traders.
The project forms part of Oman's broader strategy to expand its downstream and energy logistics sectors, diversify sources of economic growth and increase the country's competitiveness as a regional centre for crude oil storage, blending and export.
Industry participation in the EPC tender is also expected to create opportunities for local contractors and suppliers alongside international engineering firms with experience in delivering complex oil and gas infrastructure projects, supporting in-country value while bringing global expertise to the development.
Oman Observer is now on the WhatsApp channel. Click here
