When a giant oil tanker enters the Arabian Sea, there is no longer a need to risk crossing the Strait of Hormuz - Oman's oil storage hub being built in Dukum is rewriting the map of energy logistics in the Middle East.

Recently, OTTCO, a subsidiary of Oman's national energy group OQ, officially launched the qualification pre-approval for the EPC general contracting project of Ras Markaz crude oil storage park. It plans to build 8 new 650000 barrel level large storage tanks, adding 5.2 million barrels of storage capacity to this strategic energy hub. Every loading and unloading on the oil tanker deck at Dukum Port is pouring concrete for the blueprint of the Middle East energy hub.

5.2 million barrels of new storage tanks

This EPC project will construct 8 large storage tanks at the Ras Markaz crude oil storage terminal in the Dukum Economic Zone, with a single tank capacity of approximately 650000 barrels, and an additional storage capacity of approximately 5.2 million barrels after completion. OTTCO has issued a pre qualification invitation letter and plans to invite international contractors with experience in large-scale oil and gas storage tank projects to participate in bidding. The scope of pre qualification covers the entire process of engineering design, equipment procurement, construction, testing, commissioning, and production, requiring contractors to meet the performance guarantee and contract performance requirements of the project.

The Ras Markaz terminal has built 8 storage tanks, with a first phase storage capacity of 26.7 million barrels and a total planned area of 40 square kilometers, which can be expanded to 200 million barrels in the long term. The terminal is located outside the Strait of Hormuz, strategically positioned to provide safe and flexible crude oil storage solutions for international oil companies.

As of now, the terminal has received over 35 million barrels of crude oil from Oman and Kuwait and transported them to the Dukum refinery. OTTC has also signed a memorandum of cooperation with SOMO in Iraq, planning to add 10 million barrels of Iraqi crude oil storage capacity.

Dukum Energy Hub Accelerates Formation

The Dukum Special Economic Zone is Oman's first and only economic zone, covering an area of 2000 square kilometers, and is the largest economic zone in the Central and Northeast Africa region. OQ Group has completed a total investment of over 10 billion US dollars in Dukum, covering refineries, petrochemical facilities, and port infrastructure. Keywords: crude oil storage hub, petroleum

In October 2025, OTTC signed a joint venture agreement with Royal Dutch Fubon, with OTTC holding 51% and Fubon holding 49%, to jointly develop world-class energy storage and terminal infrastructure. The cumulative investment in the Dukum Special Economic Zone has reached 6 billion riyals (approximately 15.6 billion US dollars), a year-on-year increase of 55%. When 8 new storage tanks are erected on this industrial hotspot, Dukum Port will become an important transit station and storage base for international crude oil traders in the Arabian Sea.Editor/Cheng Liting