The production of standard grade petrol (M-91) by Omani refineries has seen a robust 40 percent jump to touch 10.60 million barrels during the first nine months of 2018, over the same period of last year. However, the output of super grade petrol (M-95) declined by 23 per cent to 9.14 million barrels during January-September period of this year, according to data Primary released by the NCSI.
The surge in production of standard grade petrol over super grade petrol was supported by a significant growth in demand from price sensitive motorists. Oman has two refineries – Mina Al Fahal (Muscat) and Sohar Refinery, which are owned by Oman Oil Refineries and Petroleum Industries Company (Orpic).
The NCSI report also showed that gas oil (diesel) output rose by 20 percent to 22.02 million barrels, while aviation fuel production jumped by 125 percent to 10.13 million barrels during January-September period of 2018, over the same period of last year. Production of liquefied petroleum gas (LPG) also rose by 11 percent to 5.08 million barrels during the first nine months of this year.
Of the total production of M-91 grade petrol (which is the cheapest petrol available in the market), 9.38 million barrels were sold in the domestic market. However, domestic sales of M-95 grade petrol stood 25 percent lower at 8.77 million barrels, while sales of gas oil (diesel) within the country stood steady at 12.35 million barrels during January-September period of 2018. Domestic sales of aviation fuel oil were 1 percent lower at 3.59 million barrels, while LPG sales within the country rose 11 percent to 1.91 million barrels during January-September period of 2018.
As far as petrochemicals are concerned, production of polypropylene by Orpic for the first nine months of 2018 fell by 7 percent to 181,000 tonnes, while output of paraxylene and benzene rose by 12 percent and 14 per cent to 510,000 tonnes and 177,000 tonnes, respectively.
Further, Omani refineries exported 162,000 tonnes of benzene during the first nine months of 2018, while exports of paraxylene and polypropylene stood at 480,000 tonnes and 150,000 tonnes, respectively.