TotalEnergies & OQEP Break Ground On One Of The World’s Cleanest LNG Plants

TotalEnergies and OQ Exploration and Production (OQEP) have officially broken ground on the Marsa LNG plant in the Port of Sohar, located in northern Oman.

The event took place under the patronage of His Excellency Eng. Salim bin Nasser Al Aufi, Oman’s Minister of Energy and Minerals.

The Marsa LNG facility is a joint venture between TotalEnergies (holding 80% of the project) and OQEP (holding 20%). The plant is designed to produce 1 million tons of liquefied natural gas (LNG) annually, with production expected to begin in the first quarter of 2028.

Marsa LNG will provide LNG for marine fuel, especially for vessels in the Gulf region, marking a significant step in Oman’s clean energy journey.

The plant will be fully electrified, paired with a 300 MWp photovoltaic solar farm, which will generate enough energy to meet the plant’s total energy requirements.

With this integration, Marsa LNG is expected to be one of the lowest carbon intensity LNG plants worldwide.

The plant will emit fewer than 3 kg of CO2 equivalent per barrel of oil equivalent (BOE), making it 90% more carbon-efficient compared to the average global LNG plant emissions of 35 kg CO2e/BOE.

Located at the strategic entrance to the Gulf, the Marsa LNG plant is set to become the first marine LNG bunkering hub in the Middle East.

This development is expected to greatly benefit the shipping industry by providing LNG as a fuel source for container ships, tankers, and cruise ships.

LNG is recognised as a cleaner alternative to traditional marine fuels, cutting down greenhouse gas emissions by approximately 20% compared to conventional fuel oil.

Additionally, the low-carbon intensity of LNG produced at Marsa LNG will offer even greater environmental benefits.

Marsa LNG LLC has already signed a contract for the construction of a new LNG bunkering vessel, Monte Shams, named after Jabal Shams (the “Mountain of the Sun”) in northeastern Oman.

This vessel will be stationed in Sohar starting in 2028 and will supply LNG to various vessels in the region, making it a crucial part of the project’s goal to promote a cleaner and more sustainable maritime sector.

His Excellency Salim bin Nasser Al Aufi, Minister of Energy and Minerals of Oman, highlighted the strategic importance of the Marsa LNG project. He pointed out that the project embodies Oman’s commitment to providing cleaner energy solutions and supporting global efforts to reduce the carbon footprint of the maritime industry.

According to the Minister, the project will also help drive economic growth by creating new jobs, facilitating knowledge transfer, and contributing to the development of national expertise, all while positioning Oman as a reliable regional hub for clean maritime fuel.

OQEP CEO Ahmed Al Azkawi also talked about the significance of the project, noting that Marsa LNG will help reduce emissions in the shipping industry. He expressed pride in contributing to a project that is not only innovative but also supports the development of Oman’s energy sector.

Reference: totalenergies

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