About

Duqm Refinery and Petrochemical Industries Company is the result of a joint venture between Oman Oil Company and International Petroleum Investment Company, for the purpose of producing a major refinery in the Duqm special economic zone. The refinery, when completed, will be able to process in excess of 230,000 barrels of crude oil a day, and is planned to be the catalyst for the massive expansion of Duqm into the new primary economic hub for Oman. Construction of the refinery involves the submission of tenders from prospective contributors, including for engineering, procurement and construction (EPC) services. Given the large number of tenders required to complete the refinery, and that further expansion to the refinery is planned for the future, the legal team at Duqm Refinery has its work cut out for it as the project moves forward. In November 2015, the company invited seven prequalified applicants to submit tenders for EPC services, with the legal team providing oversight of the suitability of the applications. The legal department at Duqm also provides input to risk mitigation, debt financing and the overall structuring of the project.