Sohar: The Oman Sugar Refinery (OSR) factory was inaugurated on Sunday at Sohar Port and Freezone, marking a major milestone for the Sultanate’s food security sector. The project, developed at a cost of more than RO 150 million, is the first sugar refinery to be established in Oman, reports Oman News.
The inauguration ceremony was held under the patronage of Sultan bin Salim Al Habsi, Minister of Finance.
Speaking on the occasion, Zayed bin Ahmed Al Habsi, representing the Oman Sugar Refinery Company, said the commissioning of the facility is a significant national achievement. He said the refinery represents a strategic move to strengthen food security, support the localisation of food industries and reduce the country’s dependence on imported sugar.
Eng. Salim Abdullah Al Ghafeeli, Director General of Food Security at the Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries and Water Resources, said the project is in line with national policies aimed at developing value-added food industries within the country. He added that such initiatives help reduce reliance on external markets, improve supply chain efficiency and ensure the steady availability of essential food items, while also contributing to economic diversification.
Following the inauguration, the chief guest and other attendees toured the factory and were briefed on its production processes and operational stages.
The refinery has been developed on a 20-hectare site at Sohar Port. According to officials, the plant has successfully completed its trial operations and achieved Tier 2 compliance under European standards. It is expected to gradually transition to full commercial operations by January 2026.
The factory is equipped with advanced European refining technology designed to enhance production efficiency and maintain high quality standards. It has an annual production capacity of one million tonnes of refined sugar and is supported by large storage facilities, including capacity for 500,000 tonnes of raw sugar and 70,000 tonnes of refined sugar.
Officials said these capabilities will help position Oman as a regional centre for sugar refining, distribution and re-export. The project is also expected to strengthen the industrial ecosystem at Sohar Port and Freezone by supporting the National Food Security Strategy, improving coordination between port and freezone activities, and creating further opportunities for growth in food processing and other related industries.
