A gas supply agreement to the Special Economic Zone in Duqm (SEZD) in Oman will become operational by 2019, a top official said.

“During the past period, several contracts and tenders for the projects have been awarded including the tenders for the supply of gas pipes and extending gas pipes from Saih Nahida to Duqm,” Sultan bin Hamad al Bartamani, acting CEO of Oman Gas Company (OGC), was quoted as saying in an Oman Observer report, which cited SEZD Magazine.

“More tenders and contracts of this vital project will be awarded during this year and will result in qualitative leap in SEZD,” Al Bartamani added. “The contractor of the gas pipeline extension project from Saih Nahida to Duqm has recently initiated work.”

Al Bartamani said that the gas supply station is expected to receive about 15 million cu m of gas per day during the first stage.  This quantity is enough for feeding Duqm Refinery, Marafiq Company and the other industries that will be set up in the zone.

The station’s capacity may be increased to 25 million cu m per day when the need arises, depending on the SEZD’s expansion in the upcoming period, the report said.

 Saih Nahida plant will receive gas from BP-Oman’s Khazzan oilfield and from PDO’s Saih Nahida and Saih Rawl oilfields, it added.