Oman’s ORPIC: Mina Al Fahal refinery to resume operating Dec. 18

The Mina Al Fahal refinery of Oman Oil Refineries and Petroleum Industries Co (ORPIC) is expected to resume operations on Dec. 18, the company said.

ORPIC had previously said on Dec. 5 that it had put out a fire at one of the naphtha treatment units at the refinery in Muscat.

In a new statement late on Thursday, the company said the damage was minor and that “the operations of the refinery are expected to resume on 18 December 2014.” Three people were injured in the fire but are recovering well, it added.

An investigation of the cause of the fire is underway and is expected to be completed in the next two to three weeks.

“ORPIC has also confirmed that fuel products supply to the local market is continuing as normal and the production at its Sohar refinery is continuing as per (the) normal production plan,” ORPIC said, adding that it had increased the loading capacity of fuel trucks at Sohar to ensure adequate supplies.

The Mina Al Fahal refinery has a capacity of 106,000 barrels per day, according to Reuters data. Including the Sohar refinery, ORPIC has total refining capacity of 220,000 bpd, according to its website.