Omani Minister of Oil and Gas Dr. Mohammed Hamed Al Rumhy has reaffirmed Oman’s firm interest to take part in the Hambantota oil refinery project which was announced in March 2019.
The Board of Investment (BOI)said in a statement the assurance was given during talks between a Sri Lankan government team and Omani authorities
It was announced in March that the Omani Ministry of Oil and Gas would have a 30 percent stake in a US$ 3.88 billion oil refinery project in Hambantota.
This was conveyed when a delegation comprising Minister of Development Strategies and International Trade Malik Samarawickrama, Petroleum Minister Kabir Hashim and Industries and Commerce Minister Rishad Bathiudeen and BOI chairman Mangala Yapa met with with Dr. Al Rumhy, Omani Commerce and Industry Ministry Ali Masoud Al Sunaidi and State General Reserve Fund Chief Investment Officer Mulham Al Jarf for further discussions on May 06.
A Development Strategies and International Trade Ministry media communiqué said that the ministerial visit was a follow up to the meetings Dr. Al Rumhy had with the three ministers in Sri Lanka in March 2019, during the former’s visit to Sri Lanka as the guest of honour at the foundation stone laying ceremony of the greenfield oil refinery in Hambantota, on Industry and Commerce Minister Rishad Bathiudeen’s invitation.
On May 5, the delegation was taken on a familiarization tour to the Sohar Free Zone and port, where comprehensive presentations were made by the representatives of the Sohar Port Industrial Port company and Oman Oil Refineries and Petroleum Industries Company (Orpic).
During the familiarization tour, the delegation was given a comprehensive briefing of the downstream sector of the oil and gas industry of Oman.
The delegation had a site visit to the oil refinery and Liwa Plastic Industries Complex which is the new petrochemical complex developed by Orpic.
The meeting with Dr. Al Rumhy focused on exploring avenues for cooperation in the field of petroleum industry between Sri Lanka and Oman and sharing the experience of Oman in setting up of oil refinery projects in Oman and abroad.
The two delegations also discussed on providing training for the staff of the Ceylon Petroleum Corporation and Ceylon Petroleum Storage Terminals Ltd. in Oman.
The Omani government also expressed their keen interest in exploring investment opportunities in Sri Lanka, and agreed to arrange a visit of an official team from SGRF for discussions with the relevant institutions in mid-June 2019.
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