Oman Refinery Exports First Shipment of High-quality Diesel

Duqm Refinery Project (from the OQ Group website)
Duqm Refinery Project (from the OQ Group website)
TT
20

Oman Refinery Exports First Shipment of High-quality Diesel

Duqm Refinery Project (from the OQ Group website)
Duqm Refinery Project (from the OQ Group website)

Oman's Duqm Refinery successfully exported its first shipment of high-quality diesel as per international specifications.

This coincides with the company getting closer to achieving commercial operation, with trial operations continuing to progress, exceeding 81 percent, while the percentage of construction work has exceeded more than 99 percent, Oman's state news agency reported.

The trial operations included testing all supply chains at the Duqm Refinery, including crude oil storage facilities at the Ras Markaz and an 80-kilometre-long crude oil transport pipeline.

In recent months, the Ras Markaz crude oil tanks received more than three million barrels of Omani and Kuwaiti crude oil, which were later pumped from Ras Markaz to the refinery complex in Duqm via the oil transportation pipeline.

The trial operations also included the export of the first shipments of naphtha and fuel oil via product storage and export dock at Duqm Port.

The Duqm Refinery Project is a joint project between the OQ Group and Kuwait Petroleum International Company and is located in the heart of the Special Economic Zone in Duqm.

The project includes three main packages capable of producing diesel, jet fuel, naphtha, liquefied petroleum gas, sulfur, and petroleum coal.

The Duqm Refinery has a capacity of 230,000 barrels per day and is capable of dealing with various types of crude oil, including Omani and Kuwaiti crude.



EU Says it Agreed with UAE to Launch Free Trade Talks

EU Commission President Ursula von der Leyen looks on in Brussels, Belgium, 10 April 2025. EPA/OLIVIER MATTHYS
EU Commission President Ursula von der Leyen looks on in Brussels, Belgium, 10 April 2025. EPA/OLIVIER MATTHYS
TT
20

EU Says it Agreed with UAE to Launch Free Trade Talks

EU Commission President Ursula von der Leyen looks on in Brussels, Belgium, 10 April 2025. EPA/OLIVIER MATTHYS
EU Commission President Ursula von der Leyen looks on in Brussels, Belgium, 10 April 2025. EPA/OLIVIER MATTHYS

The European Union said on Thursday it agreed with the United Arab Emirates to launch free trade talks, amid the upheaval and uncertainties created by US President Donald Trump’s decision to impose tariffs. He has since walked back some of the tariffs.

“Today, (the European Commission) President von der Leyen held a cordial phone call with His Highness Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan, President of the United Arab Emirates. During their discussion, they agreed to launch negotiations on a free trade agreement,” the EU said in a statement, according to Reuters.

The talks will focus on trade in goods, services, investment and deepening cooperation in strategic sectors including renewable energy, green hydrogen and critical raw materials, the EU said.

The UAE's president said the decision to initiate negotiations on a Comprehensive Economic Partnership Agreement (CEPA) with the EU reflects a shared determination to unlock the full potential of cooperation and advance their economic, trade, and investment ties in support of development aims.

“The CEPA would create new avenues for cooperation between the UAE and EU, increase trade and investment flows, and strengthen partnerships between the business communities of both sides,” Sheikh Mohamed wrote on his X account.

He emphasized that UAE-EU relations are founded on a common vision of stability, growth, and prosperity.

By reducing tariffs and unnecessary trade barriers and improving market access for goods and services, the pact is expected to foster opportunities in key sectors including advanced manufacturing, healthcare, logistics, and artificial intelligence, UAE's state news agency (WAM) said.

The EU is the UAE's second-largest trading partner, accounting for 8.3% of the Emirati total non-oil trade. The wealthy Gulf state is also the EU’s largest export destination and investment partner in the Middle East and North Africa, WAM added on Thursday.