Chinese group ZL EOR Chemicals has joined hands with Petroleum Development Oman (PDO) to launch the first polymer manufacturing plant in the sultanate at Raysut industrial zone in Salalah.

The 33,000-sq-m facility, a first-of-its-kind in the GCC region, has been built by ZL EOR Chemicals Oman, a part of the international group ZL EOR Chemicals, at an investment of $20 million. The polymers produced at the plant will be used for various applications, chiefly for improving oil production.

The plant, which is equipped with modern control, automation and polymerisation systems, has a  production capacity of 15,000 tonnes per year and plans are already being drawn up to boost this to 70,000 tonnes per annum in stages.

Sayyid Faisal bin Turki Al Said, the chairman of the board of directors of ZL EOR Chemicals Oman, said: “We are extremely happy to open the first-ever polymer manufacturing plant in the sultanate.”

“ZL EOR Chemicals Oman already contributes to PDO’s  world-class enhanced oil recovery projects by supplying polymer, and now locally manufactured chemicals will be used in these projects. We are looking forward to expand our successful partnership with PDO and other Omani companies,” he stated.