Middle East to Get Its First LNG Bunkering Facility at Oman's Sohar Port

In a landmark move for the region's maritime and energy sectors, the Middle East is set to welcome its first liquefied natural gas (LNG) bunkering facility at the Port of Sohar, Oman.

The USD 1.6 billion Marsa LNG project, a joint venture between French energy major TotalEnergies (80 percent) and OQ Exploration and Production (OQEP) of Oman (20 percent), officially broke ground a year after the final investment decision was announced.

Conceived five years ago, the facility aims to position Oman as a regional hub for LNG supply to the shipping industry across the Gulf. Strategically located at Sohar Port and Freezone, one of the world's fastest-growing ports and a key global shipping corridor, the Marsa LNG plant will have a liquefaction capacity of 1 million tonnes per year (Mt/y). It is expected to commence operations in the first quarter of 2028.

The plant will cater to the growing number of vessels operating in the region. In 2024, Sohar Port recorded over 3,000 vessel calls, reflecting its rising importance in international trade routes.

To support the bunkering operations, Marsa LNG has signed a charter agreement for a purpose-built vessel named Monte Shams, currently under construction. With a capacity of 18,600 cubic meters, the vessel will be stationed at Sohar and will supply LNG to a wide range of ships, including container carriers, tankers, and cruise liners.

Gas feedstock for the plant will be sourced from the Mabrouk North-East field in onshore Block 10, with Marsa holding a 33.19 percent interest in the block. The field will supply 150 million cubic feet of gas per day to the LNG facility, ensuring a secure and stable supply chain.

In line with global efforts to decarbonise the maritime industry, the Marsa LNG facility has been designed as one of the lowest carbon-intensity plants of its kind. It will be fully electrified and powered by a 300 MW solar farm, making it a model for low-emissions LNG production worldwide.

“With an ambitious technical design, we intend to set the standard and pave the way for the next generation of low-emissions LNG plants across the world,” said Patrick Pouyanné, Chairman and CEO of TotalEnergies. “We also offer an effective way to support the shipping sector’s energy transition by providing lower-emissions marine fuel in a key location at the entrance of the Gulf," he added.

The Sohar project forms part of TotalEnergies’ broader strategy to expand its global LNG bunkering infrastructure. The company currently operates bunkering vessels at the ports of Rotterdam, Marseille-Fos, and Singapore.

The Marsa LNG plant is expected to not only bolster Oman’s role in the global energy transition but also significantly strengthen its maritime logistics capabilities.