<article><p class="lead">Construction at Oman's 230,000 b/d Duqm refinery was around 96pc complete as of the end of November, state news agency ONA reported on Saturday. </p><p>The refinery is a 50:50 joint venture between Kuwait's state-owned KPI and Oman's OQ and will primarily produce diesel, jet fuel, naphtha and LPG. Its feedstock will comprise 65pc Kuwaiti crude and 35pc Omani crude. Once operational, the plant will boost the sultanate's crude oil refining capacity to beyond 500,000 b/d, from just over 300,000 b/d today. </p><p>The latest issued update is a little above the 95.22pc overall progress achieved at the end of <a href="https://direct.argusmedia.com/newsandanalysis/article/2385778">September</a>. </p><p>Despite the project now being very close to completion, last month, chief executive of KPI, Shafi al-Ajmi said commercial operations at the refinery would not begin until the end of next year. He did not disclose any reason for the lag. </p><p>The refinery was scheduled to begin commissioning in late 2021 or early 2022, but company sources told <i>Argus</i> that challenges related to the Covid-19 pandemic stalled plans. </p><p>Operator OQ8 in October last year said it was planning to commission the plant in the first quarter of 2023.</p><p class="bylines">By Rithika Krishna </p></article>
