A statement released by the company said that the maintenance activities would improve the plant's operational performance.

'A large turnaround is being undertaken every three years. This time the scope will be larger as Orpic wants to make modifi-cations to the existing plant to allow a full integration of the new units being constructed under the Sohar Refinery Improvement Project which is due for commissioning later in the year.'

An Orpic representative said that while the process is a complicated one sufficient care is being taken to ensure that there would be no disruption in the nation's fuel supply.