MUSCAT, AUGUST 17
The Marsa liquefied natural gas (LNG) project at Sohar Port continues its progress towards establishing the port as a regional hub for bunkering ships with LNG. Construction of the project was well past the 55 per cent mark by the end of June 30, 2026, with the plant nearing its target start-up date in Q1 2028.
Mahmoud bin Abdullah al Hashmi, CEO of OQ Exploration and Production (OQEP) — a joint venture partner in Marsa LNG, stated that the project has achieved significant progress in construction, supporting the company's integrated growth strategy in the gas sector.
The project primarily targets the Gulf region's bunkering market, adding a new business to Sohar Port's existing industrial and logistical activities in the bunkering sector.
The importance of the Marsa LNG project for Sohar Port lies in the fact that it not only adds a liquefied natural gas (LNG) production facility but also establishes a specialised bunkering centre, enhancing the port’s ability to attract vessels transiting the region and expanding the range of maritime services it offers.
The project includes a liquefaction plant with a capacity of one million tonnes per year and an LNG storage tank with a capacity of 165,000 cubic metres, in addition to dedicated bunkering facilities. The facility aims to be the first onshore LNG bunkering centre in the Middle East.
Sohar Port’s strategic location further enhances this advantage, enabling the project to serve maritime traffic in the Arabian Gulf and the Sea of Oman, and to capitalise on the anticipated demand for low-emission marine fuel.
Economically, the project can expand the sources of activity associated with Sohar Port. The introduction of the LNG bunkering sector opens the door to growth in storage, handling, transportation, maintenance, maritime and logistics services, in addition to commercial activities related to ships.
This will enhance the port's integration with the free zone and industrial complex in Suhar, increasing the region's attractiveness to investments related to energy and maritime transport.
Marsa LNG features a design based on the electric operation of the liquefaction facility, with the development of a 300 MW solar power plant to provide the equivalent of the plant's annual electricity needs. The design aims to reduce the facility's emissions intensity to less than three kilograms of carbon dioxide equivalent per barrel of oil equivalent, according to project data.
This advantage gives the project a competitive edge in the marine fuel market, given the shipping industry's focus on reducing emissions and seeking alternatives to traditional fuels.
The project has seen progress in its marine infrastructure this year, with the completion of the channel dredging. Work has now moved to phases that include the construction of the marine berth and shoreline protection works within the southern expansion of Sohar Port.
The project is being developed by Marsa LNG, 80 per cent owned by TotalEnergies and 20 per cent by OQEP, combining international expertise in the energy sector with OQ’s local role in Oman’s gas value chain.
The project also involves securing the necessary gas supply for operation, enhancing value chain integration from gas production to liquefaction and marketing as marine fuel.
Marsa LNG represents more than just an LNG production project; it is an investment in the future of Sohar Port as a hub for energy and maritime services, combining the port’s location, infrastructure, Omani gas, renewable energy, and the ship fuel market, which could raise Suhar’s competitiveness and enhance the Sultanate of Oman’s presence in the region’s LNG ship supply market.
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