The Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries and Water Resources (MoAFWR) has announced the launch of several new projects and investment opportunities in the field of food security. These initiatives are being implemented in collaboration with relevant government entities and private sector partners to strengthen public-private partnerships.
Eng Salem bin Abdullah al Ghafili, Director General of Food Security at the Ministry, highlighted the key projects, including Oman’s first sugar refinery. Spanning 18,000 square metres at SOHAR Port and Freezone, the refinery has a production capacity of approximately one million tonnes annually. Equipped with state-of-the-art European production lines, it will produce high-quality refined sugar from raw sugar for distribution locally, regionally and globally. The project is 91% complete.
In an interview with Oman News Agency, Al Ghafili revealed that Salalah Mills Company is currently developing a food industries centre in Khazaen Economic City at an estimated cost of RO 18.5 million. In its first phase, the facility will produce around 1.4 million pieces daily and include an industrial bakery, production lines for frozen and semi-cooked pastries, storage silos for raw materials and refrigerated and dry storage areas. The project is expected to enter the trial production phase by the end of this year.
He further noted that the projects include the construction of wheat silos at SOHAR Port and Freezone, which will increase the grain storage capacity to 160,000 tonnes, ensuring adequate supplies to meet local consumption. Land has been allocated to Salalah Mills Company for establishing wheat silos at Salalah Port, while Oman Flour Mills has been approved for the expansion of its silo facilities in Muttrah Port in coordination with Omran. Agreements have been signed for usufruct rights over a total area of 60,501 square meters, with a storage capacity of approximately 200,000 metric tons.
The expansion of Oman Flour Mills’ feed plant in Muttrah aims to strengthen food security and integrate production chains. The facility has been upgraded to a production capacity of 20 tonnes of feed per hour, along with a prepared feed mix unit capable of producing 6 tonnes per hour to meet the growing demand for diverse, high-quality feed products.
Recent efforts have also included an investment partnership between Khazaen Economic City and Zircon Food Industries to establish an integrated industrial complex for sorting, refining and packaging rice, sugar and spices, as well as comprehensive storage units for large quantities of food products.
Al Ghafili emphasised the Ministry’s commitment to providing essential food commodities and securing their storage to ensure availability during emergencies. The Ministry also aims to stabilise food prices and mitigate fluctuations caused by global economic crises. Currently, the Ministry is strategically storing essential commodities, including rice, wheat, sugar, lentils, powdered milk, cooking oil and tea, to ensure their availability at all times.
The strategic stock is sourced from within and outside Oman through three main methods: importing and storing in Ministry warehouses, rotating stock through sales to agents for local markets and contracting with local companies to maintain specified levels of certain goods in their storage facilities. Additionally, the Ministry provides storage spaces to local companies for stocking requested items, which they then rotate themselves.
Food storage is managed across five locations in Oman, situated in the governorates of Muscat, Dhofar, Al Sharqiyah South, Al Batinah North and Al Dakhiliyah. These facilities comprise 48 cold and dry storage units. Al Ghafili noted that goods are inspected before importation from their country of origin and again upon arrival in Oman.
He affirmed that the Ministry regularly rotates stock and imports food commodities to compensate for any shortages. This approach is based on the existing stock levels and the shelf life of each item. Partnered companies ensure the storage and rotation of essential goods as per agreements, with supplies distributed during emergencies and for external aid by the government.
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