Oman Refineries and Petroleum Industries Company (Orpic) plans to increase the capacity of its polypropylene plant to 340,000 tonnes of high quality polypropylene per annum from the current 200,000 tonnes a year, said a report.

The Sohar Refinery of Orpic is the main supplier of raw materials used in the production of polypropylene.

The plant is a key component in the building of an integrated local petrochemical industry. It is also part of the efforts made by the sultanate to diversify sources of national income and benefit from gas production, added the Times of Oman report.

Orpic markets the product under the brand name 'Luban,' the most renowned Omani product for export in ancient times. The production, which ranges between very soft material and granules, is exported to 91 ports in more than 63 countries, including the GCC states, India, Pakistan, Sri Lanka, Bangladesh, Middle East and North Africa countries, China, Vietnam, Peru, South Korea, Myanmar, the Philippines and South Africa.

Luban is used in the production of plastic chairs, tables, carpets, packing materials, ropes, caps, packing straps and other electrical and home appliances.


Faisal Al Hajri, Orpic's regional sales manager for Middle East, Africa and Europe, said that the production currently meets 90 per cent of Oman’s needs.

Orpic seeks to develop the plastics industry in the sultanate and double its profits by benefiting from the growing demand for plastic, added the report.