Marsa LNG, a joint company between TotalEnergies and OQ Exploration and Production (OQEP), recently announced a major construction milestone in the construction of the first marine LNG bunkering hub in the Middle East.
Marsa LNG announced that the roof of a key LNG storage tank was successfully installed following a technically demanding operation.
On 16 February, its tank contractor CB&I successfully completed the air raising of the tank roof—a pivotal operation in its project’s timeline.
This technical feat involved safely lifting 631 tonnes of steel to a height of approximately 40 metres, where it was precisely positioned atop the tank wall.
“This remarkable achievement marks a significant leap forward for the project,” the venture said.
The 1 million metric tonnes (mt) per year liquefaction plant is located in the port of Sohar, northern Oman.
The LNG production, which is expected to start in the first quarter of 2028, is primarily intended to serve the marine fuel market (LNG bunkering) in the Gulf.
Ideally located at the entrance to the Gulf, the Marsa LNG site has been selected to establish the first LNG bunkering hub in the Middle East.
A charter contract for a new LNG bunkering vessel has been signed by Marsa LNG. This vessel, named Monte Shams, is under construction and will be stationed in Sohar from 2028, where it will supply LNG to a wide range of vessels including container ships, tankers, large cruise ships.
Related: Oman: TotalEnergies and OQEP to boost LNG bunker fuel supplies with Marsa LNG plant
Photo credit: Marsa LNG
Published: 3 March, 2026
