Sebacic Oman Refinery, Middle East’s first refinery for producing Sebacic acid and the first industrial project at the heavy industries zone in the Special Economic Zone in Duqm (SEZD), has entered the production stage. The refinery has been undergoing preliminary tests during the last three months.

A joint venture between investors from the Sultanate and India, Sebacic Oman Refinery is the first of its kind in the Middle East for the production of Sebacic acid extracted from castor oil and used in many chemical, plastics and pharmaceutical industries, as well as a feedstock in the manufacture of disinfectants, paints and perfumes. This product of high economic value encourages the establishment of other industries.

The cost of the first phase of the project is OMR24 million and Sebacic Oman will implement the remaining phases of the project in the coming years.

The operation of the Sebacic Refinery would prepare Duqm to enter the era of heavy industries, said Dr Ismail bin Ahmed Al-Balushi, Deputy CEO of the Special Economic Zone Authority in Duqm (SEZAD). He pointed out that SEZAD encourages Omani and foreign investors to invest in the heavy industries sector as one of the important economic mainstays.

“We are delighted that this project has started production and we look forward to seeing more projects in the heavy industry zone in the coming years, which witnesses the launch of construction works of the Duqm Refinery as well. SEZD is well poised to support the success of investments in this sector,” Al-Balushi said in a press statement following his field visit to the refinery.

Sheikh Khalid bin Hilal Al Ma’wali, the project partner, expressed his happiness over the commencement of the actual production of Sebacic Oman Refinery and indicated that it represents an outstanding addition to the renewable chemical industries in SEZD. “This will pave the way in the future for advanced technological industries that enter into many industrial fields,” said Al Ma’wali.

“We are proud to have been able to complete the project and reach the production stage in record time,” he said. “The company’s service system in Duqm makes it easy to move to the second phase of the project. The production of the company will be 12 thousand tonnes per annum but will double after the completion of the second phase,” he added.

“The target markets for the company’s products include the United States, European countries, Japan and Korea as one of the countries that most uses these products that enter into many industries. Although Sebacic acid is the most prominent product of the company, the refinery has other products, such as glycerin used in food and medical industries, octanol and DOP used in the plastics industry,” Al Ma’wali said.