TotalEnergies and OQEP have launched the Marsa LNG development.
Takeaway Points
- TotalEnergies and OQEP celebrated the groundbreaking of the Marsa LNG plant in the port of Sohar.
- The LNG production is expected to start in the first quarter of 2028.
- TotalEnergies is a global integrated energy company that produces and markets energies.
TotalEnergies and OQEP
TotalEnergies said on Thursday that under the patronage of His Excellency Eng. Salim bin Nasser Al Aufi, Minister of Energy & Minerals of the Sultanate of Oman, Patrick Pouyanné, Chairman and CEO of TotalEnergies, and Ahmed Al Azkawi, OQ Exploration and Production CEO, celebrated the groundbreaking of the Marsa LNG plant in the port of Sohar, northern Oman, one year after the Final Investment Decision.
According to the report, the LNG production is expected to start in the first quarter of 2028, and it aims to serve the marine fuel market (LNG bunkering) in the Gulf.
Patrick Pouyanné, Chairman and CEO of TotalEnergies, commented, “I’m very proud to see Marsa LNG breaking ground, alongside our longstanding partner OQEP, and with the strong support from the Sultanate’s authorities. This flagship project demonstrates that LNG production can be very low carbon, contributing to making gas a long-term transition fuel. With an ambitious technical design, we intend to set the standard and pave the way for the next generation of low-emissions LNG plants across the world. We also offer an effective way to support the shipping sector’s energy transition, by providing lower-emissions marine fuel in a key location at the entrance of the Gulf.”
His Excellency Salim bin Nasser Al Aufi, Minister of Energy and Minerals, commenting on the groundbreaking of Marsa LNG, said, “The Ministry reiterates its steadfast commitment to supporting downstream energy projects as a vital pillar of economic integration across the industrial, trade, port, and logistics sectors. The Marsa LNG project, a strategic collaboration project between OQ Exploration & Production and TotalEnergies, embodies this commitment by developing advanced infrastructure for supplying vessels with LNG as an alternative clean fuel.”
Other Comment
Ahmed Al Azkawi, CEO of OQEP, remarked, “At OQEP, we are committed to driving innovation and sustainability in Oman’s energy landscape. The Marsa LNG project represents a solid step forward, harnessing cutting-edge technology and strategic collaboration to ensure a cleaner, and affordable energy future. As the first LNG bunkering hub in the Middle East, Marsa LNG will play a pivotal role in reducing emissions in the shipping industry while reinforcing Oman’s position as a key player in the global energy sector. We take immense pride in contributing to this transformative journey—one that sets new standards for low-carbon energy solutions.”
The Marsa LNG
The company said that the Marsa LNG site is located at the entrance to the Gulf and has been selected to set up the first LNG bunkering hub in the Middle East.
Ships using LNG in Sohar will reduce their GHG emissions thanks to the low carbon intensity of the LNG production in Marsa LNG and local bunkering without the need to transport LNG to a distant bunkering port, TotalEnergies said.
A charter contract for a new LNG bunkering vessel has been signed by Marsa LNG LLC, the report stated.
About OQEP
OQEP was incorporated on 20 May 2009 and registered in the Sultanate of Oman as a limited liability company and was then converted to an SAOC on the Commercial Register on 15 July 2024. On October 28, 2024, OQEP successfully listed its shares and became a public joint stock company.
The company’s core business activities include the extraction of crude petroleum and natural gas, the drilling of oil and natural gas wells, service activities incidental to the extraction of petroleum and natural gas (excluding surveying), and exploration and prospecting activities for oil or gas fields. The company is Oman’s largest pure-play oil and gas exploration and production company. It is also one of the largest holders of oil and gas reserves in Oman, producing 227,800 barrels of oil equivalent per day in 2024.
The mission of the company is to safely and efficiently explore commercially viable oil and gas opportunities across its contract areas in a way that can be monetized efficiently to support the company’s growth aspirations. The company’s exploration programme is designed to drive reserves replenishment to support its future growth.
About TotalEnergies
TotalEnergies is a global integrated energy company that produces and markets energies: oil and biofuels, natural gas and green gases, renewables, and electricity. Their more than 100,000 employees are committed to providing as many people as possible with energy that is more reliable, more affordable, and more sustainable. Active in about 120 countries, TotalEnergies places sustainability at the heart of its strategy, its projects, and its operations.
