Oman’s first integrated downstream petrochemicals complex

Oman Oil Refineries and Petroleum Industries Company (Orpic) is aiming to meet this demand with its $4.5bn Liwa Plastics Industries Complex (LPIC) project that is a vital element in the Sultanate’s program to reduce its overall reliance upon the export of natural gas and crude oil by further developing Oman’s downstream industry.

Nexans is playing a key role in the LPIC project by providing a variety of instrumentation and fibre optic telecommunication cables that will be supplied via Rexel, the global cable distributor.

Orpic’s project to build LPIC is an example of the transformation journey undertaken by the company to diversify its business. The cutting-edge complex will include a refinery, aromatics plant, steam cracker and downstream polypropylene and polyethylene plants.

Thanks to the new facility, plastics production will be increased by 1 million tonnes, allowing Orpic for a total of 1.4 million tonnes of polyethylene and polypropylene production by 2020. It is anticipated that 150 technicians and 350 operators will be required to manage the new facilities, which are also expected to create more than 1,200 jobs in the local area.

LPIC will be equipped with Nexans’ instrumentation, fibre optic telecommunication cables and fieldbus cables, supplied through the Group’s established partnership with Rexel. These cables feature Nexans’ innovative HYPRON design developed and tested to provide an alternative to lead sheath cables for onshore oil and gas installations, especially within refineries and petrochemical installations in moist areas where corrosive aromatic hydrocarbons are present.

Nexans HYPRON cables contribute to cleaner environment by avoiding lead exposure and emissions thanks to three concentric, co-extruded sheaths which provide water tightness as well as resistance to inorganic and organic chemicals (such as chlorine and synthetic oils as well as aromatics, benzene, petrol).

Orlando Vaquero, Nexans Oil and Gas Downstream ISP Global Market Director, stated: “It is a big honour for Nexans to contribute to the development of Oman by bringing our global expertise to the Sultanate’s large-scale and forward looking projects, such as the LPIC. The scope of Nexans’ technical capability, together with the complete ‘one stop shop’ we offer in cooperation with Rexel, made the difference in persuading Orpic that we can deliver the quality, performance and fast response they require.”

The LPIC project will enter the commissioning phase at the end of 2018 ready for commercial operation from 2020.

The HYPRON cables for the LPIC project are manufactured and delivered by Nexans Korea’s facility in Cheongwon, South Korea.