Oman Inaugurates OOMCO Marine Bunker Fuel Terminal at Port of Duqm

Construction work at the Duqm Refinery in Oman. (Reuters)
Construction work at the Duqm Refinery in Oman. (Reuters)
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Oman Inaugurates OOMCO Marine Bunker Fuel Terminal at Port of Duqm

Construction work at the Duqm Refinery in Oman. (Reuters)
Construction work at the Duqm Refinery in Oman. (Reuters)

Oman inaugurated on Sunday the Oman Oil Marketing Company (OOMCO) Marine bunker fuel terminal worth OMR11 million at the Port of Duqm.

OOMCO Marine is the bunker arm of OOMCO SAOG.

Located in the Duqm Special Economic Zone (SEZAD), the terminal will supply the full range of bunker fuel to ships at the port and port anchorage.

The project will contribute to further positioning Oman as a world-class logistics and shipping hub.

According to Oman’s News Agency (ONA), it is one of the projects announced by the Oman Investment Authority, as part of the 52nd National Day celebrations.

Hilal al-Kharusi, Chairman of OOMCO said, “Inaugurating the OOMCO Marine bunker fuel terminal at the Port of Duqm further strengthens Oman’s position as a world-class logistics and shipping hub, in line with the objectives laid out in Oman’s Vision 2040.”

“Our now fully operational terminal contributes to economic growth and diversification in Oman, while capitalizing on its strategic position near established global trade routes.”

The terminal is expected to meet the increasing demands for high-quality and sustainable marine fuels, including the highest specification compliant HSFO, VLSFO and LSMGO marine fuel to International Organization for Standardization (ISO) 8217, as well as all low sulphur fuel-compliant marine fuels, in line with International Maritime Organization’s (IMO) Decarbonization targets.

Bunkers will be delivered by a port based bunker barge and also directly by road truck, with the bunker barge capable of supplying VLSFO 0.5% Sulphur and LSMGO bunker fuels to vessels in the port and at anchorage, at a pumping rate of up to 1,000 meter cubed per hour.

OOMCO’s bunkering services are underpinned by the nearby Duqm refinery.

Owing to its strategic location on Oman’s south-east coast and its close proximity to significant shipping traffic accessing the Suez Canal, Arabian Gulf and Indian Ocean, the inaugurated quality and eco-efficient marine fuel terminal aims to serve the international shipping market.



Taiwan Holds First Tariff Talks with United States

A plane takes off above the skyline including Taipei 101 (C) in Taipei on April 11, 2025. (AFP)
A plane takes off above the skyline including Taipei 101 (C) in Taipei on April 11, 2025. (AFP)
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Taiwan Holds First Tariff Talks with United States

A plane takes off above the skyline including Taipei 101 (C) in Taipei on April 11, 2025. (AFP)
A plane takes off above the skyline including Taipei 101 (C) in Taipei on April 11, 2025. (AFP)

Taiwan officials held their first tariff talks with US officials on Friday, with both sides looking forward to further discussions soon, the island's government said on Saturday.

While Taiwan, a major semiconductor producer facing tariffs of 32%, complained they were unfair, it moved quickly to lay out proposals with the United States, offering a zero-tariff regime and greater purchases and investments in the country.

In a statement, Taiwan's Office of Trade Negotiations said its officials held a video conference with US officials whom it did not identify.

The talks focused on reciprocal tariffs between Taiwan and the United States, non-tariff barriers to trade, and a number of other economic and trade issues, including export controls, it added.

"Both sides look forward to conducting follow-up consultations ... in the near future and jointly building a strong and stable economic and trade relationship between Taiwan and the United States," it said.

The Office of the United States Trade Representative did not immediately respond to a request for comment sent outside of Washington work hours.

On Wednesday, US President Donald Trump said he would temporarily lower the hefty duties he had just imposed on dozens of countries, while further ramping up pressure on China.

Home to the world's largest contract chipmaker, TSMC, Taiwan has long sought a free trade deal with the United States, its most important international backer and arms supplier, even though the two have no formal diplomatic ties.

Taiwan faces increasing military and political pressure from its giant neighbor China, which views the democratically governed island as its own territory.

Taiwan's government rejects those claims, saying only the island's people can decide their future.