The project is part of the third phase of the US$6.5bn LiwaPlastics Industries Complex.

Eng Musab al Mahrouqi, CEO of Orpic, told ONAthat the project, which will be implemented by GS Co of South Korea and the Japanese Mitsui Co at a cost of US$688mn.

The company last week laid the foundation stone for phase one and two of the Liwa complexin Sohar Industrial Port. This contains the US$2.8bn steam cracking unit and the US$888mn polypropylene and polyethylene production unit.

Eng Mahrouqi said phase four will comprise the 300km pipeline to transport natural gas liquids from the Fahud station to the Sohar Industrial Port, adding that India's Punj Lloyd Co has started implementing the US$112mn project.

Natural gas fluids that will be extracted from the Fahud station will form 60 per cent of the raw material forthe LiwaPlastics complexand the operationalisation of the station in 2020 will coincide with the start of operations of the other projects under the three other phases.

The Liwacomplex will mark a change in Orpic's product mix. The company's profits will double and there will be new commercial opportunities, in addition to many job opportunities.

Additionally, the complex will support the development of the plastics industry in the sultanate. It is expected that this project will increase the company's plastic products production volume to 1.4mn tonnes of polyethylene and polypropylene.

The integrated project, which includes refineries, the aromatics factory, the polypropylene plant, the steam cracking unit, and the polypropylene and polyethylene units , will be one of most complete refining and petrochemical complexes in the world.