One of Orpic’s key missions is to ensure that its operations run safely and smoothly at all times. With this in mind, Orpic’s Sohar Refinery and Polypropylene Plant will undergo a major planned turnaround / maintenance activity from 23 February – 23 April 2016. This shutdown will be used to execute a number of maintenance activities in order to improve the operational performance of Orpic’s Plants.

A large Turn Around is undertaken every three years. This time the scope will be larger as Orpic wants to make modifications to the existing plant to allow a full integration of the new units being constructed under the Sohar Refinery Improvement Project, which is due for commissioning later in the year.

Explaining the complexity of the shutdown, an Orpic representative said, “We analyzed and reviewed the need for this Turn Around. A detailed worklist was created and every Orpic employee has been assigned with specific tasks. This Turn Around will witness a large revamp of the Resid Catalytic Cracker unit, which is the core of the existing refinery. However, we would like to reiterate that there would be no disruption to the nation’s supply of fuel.”