The production of standard grade petrol (M-91) by Omani refineries has seen a significant 38 percent jump to touch 9.27 million barrels in the first eight months of 2018, over the same period of last year. However, the output of super grade petrol (M-95) declined by 23% to 8.03 million barrels during January-August period of this year, according to data released by the Centre.
The surge in production of standard grade petrol over super grade petrol was supported by a significant growth in demand. 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 24 percent to 19.91 million barrels, while aviation fuel production surged by 134 percent to 9.17 million barrels during January-August period of 2018, over the same period of last year. Production of liquefied petroleum gas (LPG) also rose by 29 percent to 4.11 million barrels during the first eight months of this year.
Of the total production of M-91 grade petrol (which is the cheapest petrol available in the market), 8.38 million barrels were sold in the domestic market. Further, domestic sales of M-95 grade petrol stood 25 percent lower at 7.77 million barrels, while sales of gas oil (diesel) within the country stood steady at 11.02 million barrels during January-August period of 2018. Domestic sales of aviation fuel oil were at 3.17 million barrels, while LPG sales within the country touched rose 11 percent to 1.70 million barrels during January-August period of 2018.
The production of petrochemicals by ORPIC refineries also showed a marked growth in the first eight months of 2018. Production of Benzene by Orpic for the first eight months of 2018 surged 17 percent to 156,000 tonnes, while output of paraxylene and polypropylene rose by 14 percent and 5 % to 451,000 tonnes and 180,000 tonnes, respectively. In addition, Omani refineries exported 148,000 tonnes of benzene during the first eight months of 2018, while exports of paraxylene and polypropylene stood at 419,000 tonnes and 148,000 tonnes, respectively.
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