MUSCAT, NOV 13
Eng Salim bin Nasser al Aufi, Minister of Energy and Minerals, inaugurated the calcined petroleum coke production plant of Sanvira Carbon FZC LLC in Sohar Freezone on Sunday, November 13, 2022.
The project — the first of its kind in the Sultanate of Oman — processes petroleum coke into products of highly industrial value used in aluminium industries and other mining industries.
Sanvira Carbon FZC LLC was established by a partnership of Omani and Indian investors, comprising Oman National Investments Development Company (Tanmia), United Business Company (Oman) and Sanvira Industries Limited (India).
The plant has a capacity to produce 600,000 tonnes of calcined petroleum coke annually while total GCC demand for the commodity is estimated at 1.5 million tonnes annually.
Around 200 jobs have been created by the project, with Omanisation projected to rise to 50 per cent within five years. Besides, the company is also planning to establish a limestone facility in collaboration with Minerals Development Oman (MDO).
Significantly, the project will play an important role in Oman’s economic diversification and local value creation. It converts petroleum coke from refineries into a commercially valuable product that is used in the aluminium, industrial and mining industries.
“It is a uniquely distinguished project that has satisfied all appropriate criteria to create successful partnerships, gain foreign direct investments into the Sultanate of Oman and realise return on investment,” said Khalid bin Awad al Balushi, CEO - Tanmia.
Steam produced through the calcination process is used to generate 24 megawatts of electricity which is supplied to companies in Sohar Freezone at a competitive cost.
Said bin Salem al Hajri, Partner, said the company has signed memoranda of cooperation with several companies in Qatar, UAE and Saudi Arabia, as well as BP in France, to support the offtake of its products.
Additionally, the project will add economic value to the petroleum coke produced by Sohar Refinery, which is currently exported as a raw material outside the Sultanate.
“Remanufacturing petroleum coke to become a final product used in aluminium industry increases the economic value of the raw products produced by the refinery, and thus achieves good returns for the national economy,” he stated.
Besides Tanmia, the project is backed by Sanvira Industries Limited, a leading Indian manufacturer of calcined petroleum coke. Another partner is United Business Company, an Omani company specialised in the production and marketing of various chemical products.
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