Marsa LNG, a joint venture between global industry leader TotalEnergies and Omani group OQ, has made one of the key construction milestones in the $1.6 billion Sohar Port LNG bunkering project with the successful installation of the roof of a strategically important LNG storage tank in an increased complex operation.
The LNG bunkering hub at the Sohar port and Free Zone will be a first-of-its-kind in the region and will have a capacity of 1 million tonnes per year.
Houston-based CB&I, a global leader in tank and terminal storage solutions and a McDermott subsidiary, carried out the ‘air-raising’ technique.
It was an engineering process that entailed the use of compressed air to slowly raise and set the completed steel roof on top of the tank wall. The operation raised 631 tonnes of steel that was around 40 m high and controlled precisely.
The joint venture said, “This technical achievement represents a significant advancement for the project. It reflects meticulous planning, strong teamwork, and excellent health, safety, and environmental performance by Marsa LNG and CB&I.”
In a statement concerning its activity, the Omani group reported that CB&I was awarded the engineering, procurement, and construction (EPC) contract on the 165,000 cu m full-containment concrete LNG storage tank and ancillary piping. Technip Energies is the EPC contractor of the entire bunkering hub.
According to OQ Exploration & Production (OQEP), the total construction progress had reached about 39 percent by the end of 2025.
A significant achievement in the year was the conclusion of a Natural Gas Sales Agreement with Integrated Gas Company (IGC) to provide 150 million standard cu ft per day of gas in block 10 -the gas from which Marsa LNG would get its gas equity- to the bunkering facility.
Therefore, the OQEP is a significant stakeholder in the region with a 20 percent direct and indirect interest in Block 10, which is being operated by Shell.
The publicly traded upstream energy company, part of OQ Group, reported in its 2025 financial report, “OQEP benefits from a dual revenue stream from Block 10: gas sales and LNG sales from the upcoming Marsa LNG bunkering hub, the region’s first.”
Thus, the Marsa LNG bunkering center is projected to be commissioned between the second and third quarters of 2028.
