Orpic’s Al Jifnain Terminal comes on stream

LOADING FACILITIES: The terminal is designed to cater to the loading of more than 500 trucks per day -

Business Reporter -

MUSCAT, OCT 16 -

State-owned refining and petrochemicals flagship Orpic announced yesterday the launch of commercial operations of its Muscat Suhar Product Pipeline (MSPP) — a $320 million strategic investment that will deliver more than 50 per cent of Oman’s fuel via a state-of-the-art central fuel terminal and storage facility at Al Jifnain, just outside Muscat.

A tanker truck loading facility at Al Jifnain Terminal was brought operation yesterday, serving tankers operated by local fuel marketing companies. Fuels to the terminal are supplied by pipeline connecting Al Jifnain with Orpic’s Suhar Refinery.

“Al Jifnain Terminal will serve as new hub for fuel supply to local marketing companies. The terminal will start to commercially supply Aviation Fuel by the year end through a direct pipeline to support the requirements of Muscat International Airport,” said Orpic in a press statement.

The Muscat Suhar Product Pipeline and Al Jifnain Terminal project connects Orpic’s Mina Al Fahal refinery in Muscat with its Suhar refinery via a two-way, 290 kms, multi-product pipeline to the intermediate distribution and storage facility in Al Jifnain. The project is split into three sections: MAF-Jifnain Terminal: 40-kms (10 inches), Jifnain Terminal-Airport: 30-kms (10 inches), and Suhar-Jifnain Terminal: 220-kms (18 inches). The project is being delivered by Orpic Logistics — a joint venture partnership established between Orpic, and Spanish firm Compañía Logística de Hidrocarburos (CLH).

In addition to meeting the future domestic demand for fuels, the Al Jifnain Terminal will significantly boost fuel storage capacity in the Sultanate, as well as reduce the carbon footprint associated with tanker truck traffic by almost 70 per cent in Muscat Governorate.

“This is a first of its kind project to be constructed in Oman, which does away with the need for Orpic to ship refined products, thereby bringing a new level of efficiency and lower cost to its business. The terminal will also be equipped with loading facilities designed to cater to the loading of more than 500 trucks per day,” Orpic added.