Muscat – Oman’s first sugar refinery was inaugurated on Monday at Sohar Port and Freezone, a major industrial project aimed at strengthening food security, with an investment exceeding RO150mn.

The inauguration was held under the patronage of H E Sultan bin Salim al Habsi, Minister of Finance, and attended by senior officials, diplomats and business leaders.

Zayed bin Ahmed al Habsi, a representative of Oman Sugar Refining Company, said the project marks a national milestone as the sultanate’s first sugar refinery. He said the facility supports efforts to localise food industries, reduce dependence on imports and add value to the industrial sector. Built to international standards and equipped with modern technologies, the refinery is ready for full-scale operations, he added.

The project is expected to meet a significant share of domestic demand for refined sugar while supporting regional exports. It will also generate direct and indirect employment, support skills transfer and build national capabilities, while complying with quality, food safety and environmental standards.

Salim bin Abdullah al Ghafeeli, Director General of Food Security at the Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries and Water Resources, said the refinery aligns with national initiatives to localise food processing and improve supply chain resilience. He said such projects help ensure the sustainable availability of essential commodities and support economic diversification.

He added that the project reflects effective alignment between industrial investment and national objectives, enhancing Oman’s ability to respond to global food challenges and advance self-sufficiency in key food products.

Khalid bin Salim al Qasabi, Director General of Industry at the Ministry of Commerce, Industry and Investment Promotion, said the project reflects the objectives of the national industrial strategy by localising value-added manufacturing and linking it to advanced port and freezone infrastructure. He said the choice of Suhar underscores investor confidence in Oman’s industrial environment.

Located on a 20-hectare site at Sohar Port, the refinery has completed trial operations and achieved Category 2 certification under European standards. Commercial operations are set to begin in phases by January 2026. The plant uses an advanced European refining system and has an annual capacity of one million tonnes of refined sugar, supported by storage facilities for 500,000 tonnes of raw sugar and 70,000 tonnes of refined sugar.

Officials said the project supports Oman Vision 2040 goals on food security and sustainable economic development, while strengthening the industrial ecosystem at Sohar Port and Freezone and creating opportunities for downstream industries, particularly in the food sector.