SOHAR Port to begin LNG bunkering in 2028

SOHAR Port and Freezone in Oman is set to commence LNG bunkering operations in 2028, marking a key development in its 20-year history as a logistics hub and industrial cluster.

Speaking at the LNG Shipping and Terminals Conference in London, SOHAR Port chief executive Emile Hoogsteden detailed the progress of the Marsa LNG project, a joint venture between TotalEnergies and Omani energy company OQ.

“The expectation is that in Q1 2028, the plant will be operational,” Mr Hoogsteden confirmed. The LNG facility, spearheaded by Marsa LNG, will primarily focus on supporting LNG bunkering operations.

TotalEnergies has already secured a bunker barge for the project, signalling its commitment to the venture.

In preparation for the operations, SOHAR Port and Freezone has recently awarded the tender for dredging works, while tenders for the jetty and shore protection are in the process of being finalised.

The LNG plant, which will produce LNG for maritime use, is a critical element in expanding the port’s capacity to serve international shipping.

SOHAR Port operates as a 50/50 joint venture between the government of Oman’s ASYAD Group and the Netherlands’ Port of Rotterdam.

Mr Hoogsteden, who was seconded from the Port of Rotterdam, highlighted the port’s evolution over the past two decades.

“This year we celebrate our 20-year anniversary, and we’re seeing a lot of new investments coming in,” he said, referencing the industrial growth and diversification at the site, which includes steel mills, refineries and chemical plants.

The Marsa LNG initiative underscores SOHAR’s strategic importance as a regional logistics and energy hub.

With LNG bunkering operations anticipated to begin in 2028, the port aims to solidify its position as a key player in supporting cleaner maritime energy solutions.