MUSCAT - Industrial gases leader Air Liquide has brought two new plants into operation in a significant expansion of capacity to meet the growing needs of the Sultanate's rapidly burgeoning industrial and petrochemicals sector. The new plants -- one in Muscat and the other at Sohar -- have been set up by the international firm's Oman subsidiary, Air Liquide Sohar Industrial Gases LLC (ALSIG). With their launch recently, ALSIG now boasts a total of three high-tech plants, which includes an existing unit at the Sohar Industrial Port.
"With these new, state-of-the-art plants we have cleared the way for the reinforcement of our long-term investment plans in Oman," said Mehdi Benzaari (pictured), ALSIG General Manager. The new plants demonstrate Air Liquide's commitment to providing safe and reliable supplies of industrial gases for the nation's rapidly industrialising economy, said Benzaari. "With these two new plants, we have effectively doubled our capacity and set the stage for our continued growth in the Sultanate.
We are also looking to reinforce our investment plans in Oman to secure our success over the long-term," he added in comments to the Observer. The world leader in gases for industry, health and the environment, Air Liquide is a major equity partner (50.1 per cent) in ALSIG, which was established in 2005 to set up, operate and manage a state-of-the-art gases plant at the industrial port. Air Liquide's partners in ALSIG are the reputable Omani firms: ORPC (Oman Refineries & Petrochemicals Company), MHD (Mohsin Haider Darwish LLC) and OMZEST (Omar Zawawi Establishment). ALSIG has seen its portfolio of long-term customers grow significantly over the past three years.
A number of Sohar's world-class industries currently receive their requirement of nitrogen -- an inert gas indispensable to their operations -- from ALSIG's modern facility. A pipeline network now links the ALSIG plant with customers around the sprawling industrial port.
ALSIG's new plant in Muscat is now operational within the Mina al Fahal complex of Oman Refineries & Petrochemicals Co (ORPC). The captive plant fully meets the nitrogen needs of ORPC's Mina al Fahal refinery.
Significantly, ALSIG is looking to expand its footprint beyond Sohar and Muscat to existing and planned industrial hubs elsewhere around the Sultanate. "Air Liquide, along with its shareholders, will continue the development of industrial gases for the very long term, and we will embrace any new opportunities in Sohar and beyond. ALSIG will also carefully assess any new opportunities linked to industrial and petrochemical investments in Sur, Salalah and Duqm as and when they arise.
We are very confident of our future in the business of industrial gases in the Sultanate," Benzaari stated. Also with the launch of its new plants at Sohar and Muscat, ALSIG is now well-placed to meet the expanding needs of the local merchant requirements. Product diversification is also a key objective, according to Benzaari. "ALSIG intends to continue to grow to establish the right economies of scales, create new synergies for our customers and to diversify our portfolio of industrial gases.
We are keenly exploring the potential for adding hydrogen, oxygen, and carbon monoxide, among other gases, to our product range." Founded in 1902, Air Liquide enjoys a presence in around 75 countries around the world. The company has been a longstanding reputation for dependability and safety in supply of air gases critical to the operational needs of its customers around the world. Sales in 2008 totalled 13.1 billion euros.
Oman Daily Observer 2009
