Nexans secured cable contract for Omani petrochemical complex

Nexans has been awarded a major contract to supply lead-free cables to Oman’s Liwa Plastics Industries Complex (LPIC) project, Oman’s first integrated downstream petrochemicals complex.

Global demand for high and low density polyethylene is increasing, especially within Asia, where it is an important raw material for the manufacture of various plastic products for both domestic and industrial uses. Oman Oil Refineries and Petroleum Industries Company (Orpic) is aiming to meet this demand with its $4.5bn LPIC project. LPIC is a key element in the Sultanate’s programme to reduce its overall reliance upon the export of natural gas and crude oil by further developing Oman’s downstream industry.

The LPIC complex will include a refinery, aromatics plant, steam cracker and downstream polypropylene and polyethylene plants, making it one of the leading integrated refinery and petrochemical facility combinations in the world. The new facility will increase plastics production by 1mn tonnes, allowing Orpic to produce 1.4mn tonnes of polyethylene and polypropylene by 2020.

Due to be commissioned at the end of 2018, the complex will be ready for commercial operation from 2020.