By Business Reporter — MUSCAT: MAY 20 - Sultan Qaboos University (SQU), Oman Oil Refineries and Petroleum Industries Company (Orpic) and the Japan Cooperation Centre Petroleum (JCCP) have signed an agreement on a joint project for the development of a ‘Local Treatment Alternative Pilot for Exported Hazardous Refinery Waste’. The agreement was signed at SQU on Thursday by Dr Rahma bint Ibrahim al Mahrouqi, SQU Deputy Vice Chancellor for Postgraduate Studies & Research, Christiaan van der Wouden, Chief Operating Officer of Orpic and Eiji Hiraoka, Senior Executive Director, JCCP.
The new project is being materialised as SQU has been looking for partners to participate in a joint project to study oily waste treatment in the country. Orpic has been exporting its hazardous waste outside Oman for treatment, and is keenly interested in finding alternatives to such export. JCCP has proposed a new funded project.
The purpose of this project is the promotion of international cooperation between SQU, Orpic and JCCP in petroleum-related technological development, to foster and further strengthen ties between Oman and Japan. The budget for this joint project consists of JCCP fund and SQU/Orpic contribution. The two-year long project includes pilot test for local treatment alternative for exported refinery hazardous waste; and pilot equipment to be installed and operated at the Orpic refinery.
Speaking on the occasion, Dr Rahma al Mahrouqi said that SQU is proud to associate with JCCP and Orpic in a technical cooperation project on hazardous refinery waste treatment. She underscored the long-term partnership between SQU and JCCP, which has resulted in successful implementation of oil field and refinery related projects. She hoped that the new project that seeks to address oil refinery waste treatment locally will help solve protect the environment and add to capacity building in Oman in this field.
Christiaan van der Wouden said it was an honour for Orpic to be part of this technical cooperation project with SQU and JCCP.
“Health, safety and environment are the first priorities of Orpic and the project that explores hazardous refinery waste treatment technologies locally would open up now frontiers of knowledge in waste management leading to environmental protection and safety of people in Oman,” he commented.
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