Page 16 - DMEA Week 22

DMEA PETROCHEMICALS DMEA

Oman starts up maiden PE unit

OMAN OMANI energy firm OQ has begun test runs at pipeline to the PE plant.
its new 880,000 tonne per year (tpy) polyethylene Liwa Plastics is the crown jewel in OQ’s
Liwa Plastics is the (PE) plant in the port of Sohar. so-called series of “transformational projects,”
crown jewel in OQ’s The PE unit, Oman’s first, is part of the Liwa aimed at extracting more value from Oman’s
so-called series of Plastics Industries Complex, which also includes oil and gas by expanding its downstream
“transformational a 300,000 tpy polypropylene (PP) unit. Italy’s industry. The main complex adjoins the Suhar
projects.” Maire Tecnimont said in late May that the unit oil refinery.
had achieved a safe start-up and yielded its OQ has not offered guidance yet on the time-
first polymer powder using imported ethylene frame for Liwa Plastics’ commissioning and
feedstock. commercial launch. The project’s estimated cost
OQ, which comprises state oil company OOC is $6.7bn.
and seven other Omani firms, also started test PE’s applications include films, tubes, plastic
runs at a 1mn tpy natural gas liquids (NGLs) parts and laminates in numerous markets, such
extraction plant in Fahud, 300 km inland from as the packaging, automotive, electrical, elec-
Sohar, in late April. Once this facility is up and tronics, appliances, healthcare products and toy
running it will supply domestic ethylene via a industries. ™

FUELS

Iran to build up gasoline storage

IRAN IRAN is looking to increase its gasoline stor- Tehran also wants to expand the output of the
age capacity in response to a slump in demand 420,000 barrel per day (bpd) Persian Gulf Star
Iran was hard hit by the caused by the coronavirus (COVID-19), and in refinery, raising its gasoline production to 54mn
coronavirus pandemic, preparation for an expansion of the Persian Gulf litres per day. The plant runs on condensate sup-
causing its fuel demand Star refinery. plied by the super-giant South Pars gas field.
to collapse. The country has removed 770,000 barrels of Iran’s south-east region has established
oil from storage at the northern port of Neka to 120mn litres of storage for gasoline produced at
make room for extra gasoline, state news service the refinery, ISNA reported on May 9. A crude
Shana reported on May 31. The oil was trans- oil tank in Tehran’s Moghanak region has also
ferred to the Tehran oil refinery. Gasoline will be been emptied to house 40mn litres more of the
delivered to the Neka terminals via the Rey-Sa- fuel. Additional plans are underway to add stor-
ri-Neka pipeline once dredging work has been age in the Sari region in the north.
completed. In other Iranian news, a fire has occurred
Iran has been one of the countries hardest at the 220,000 bpd Tehran oil refinery on June
hit by the coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic, 4, killing one worker and injuring another, the
with the travel restrictions imposed by author- facility’s operator reported.
ities to combat the virus causing fuel demand The fire was caused by a gasoline leak and has
to collapse. Its oil minister said in mid-May that been extinguished. A more serious blaze also
gasoline stockpiles had reached an “unprece- broke out at the same plant in November 2017,
dented historic level,” with consumption having killing eight workers. Refining operations were
slumped to 65mn litres per day from an average halted after the latest incident, which took place
of 97mn litres last year. at just after midday. ™

P16 www. NEWSBASE .com Week 22 04•June•2020