Oman Oil Refineries & Petroleum Industries Company (Orpic) is planning major investments in storage and handling facilities for petroleum coke, a report said.

Pet coke, large quantities of which will be produced upon commissioning of the multi-billion-dollar Sohar Refinery Improvement Project, is used as a source of energy, or as a source of carbon for industrial applications, added the Oman Observer report.

The handling and storage system will allow for Sohar refinery’s output of this commodity to be exported via Sohar Port.

Orpic has floated an invitation to tender (ITT) planning a system of silos with belt feeders and conveyors that will be established near the refinery complex at Sohar Port, the report said.

Global engineering firms are expected to bid for the contract for the detailed design, engineering, procurement and supply of materials, installation and construction, testing and commissioning of the facility, it added.

The new facility will feature a pair of concrete silos with a combined capacity to hold 60,000 tonnes of pet coke.

Pet coke from the silos will be fed into specially designed containers for exports.