Oman’s Polymer Park targets 150,000 t/y of plastic products by 2030

Ladayn Polymer Park is currently being developed on a site at Suhar Industrial City

MUSCAT: Ladayn Polymer Park, an industrial zone dedicated to the manufacture of multi-use plastic products in Suhar, has invited Expressions of Interest from investors seeking to operate from this first-of-its-kind cluster in the Sultanate of Oman.

Set up as a joint partnership between OQ, the wholly government-owned global integrated energy, and the Public Establishment for Industrial Estates (Madayn), Ladayn Polymer Park is currently being developed on a 1 million m3 site at Suhar Industrial City. Polymer as feedstock for investors is envisioned to come primarily from OQ's multibillion dollar Liwa Plastics complex located nearby.

"The Park will make the most of the Sultanate of Oman's position as a major polymer producer to strategically grow the number and productivity of local converters and enhance the national polymer ecosystem, striving to become a leading global force in driving positive change in plastics innovation," said OQ in an introduction to Ladayn Polymer Park.

"It will further drive an increase in local demand for the upstream production of polymers, levels of technology used by industry, the value of products manufactured, business activity, and employment in the sector," it further stated.

Significantly, Ladayn Polymer Park has identified as many as 20 different polymer-based product categories that are suitable for investment in this cluster. These categories open up potentially hundreds of business opportunities linked to polymer conversion.

A sampling of these opportunities is as follows: Flexible Packaging (BOPE film, lamination film, high barrier films, pouches, labels, bags for food and non-food items, bubble wrap, compostable bags and cutlery, pharma and medical packaging; Rigid Packaging (for syringes, blood collection tubes, waste containers, cosmetic and pharmaceutical packaging; Textile & Nonwoven (wipes, hospital bed covers, medical caps, gowns, surgical cloths, medical/surgical masks and medical gloves; Foams (foams for PP, PE and PU, insulation foams and packaging foams, protective foams, anti-shock foams), Compounds masterbatches (Colour masterbatches, functional masterbatches such as flame retardant, antimicrobial, anti-block etc); Glass fibre compounds; Pipes and Fittings; Fiber & filaments (staples, spun bond, strapping fibre, clothing, smart textiles); Construction & Infrastructure (storm water boxes, water management systems); Plastic Pallets; Bottles, Jars and Containers); Agriculture film; Industrial Packaging (raffia bags, non-woven bags, garment bags); Industrial Packaging (caps & closures, Food & Nonfood containers, storage boxes, crates, pallets, paint pails, cages, flowerpots, industrial containers, wash bins; Furniture: (design chairs, tables for indoor/outdoor) flooring, panels, doors, decking; and Safety nets.

Given this promising investment potential for downstream value creation, output from Ladayn Polymer Park is envisioned at around 150 kilotonnes of multi-use plastics products by the year 2030. The facility is being actively targeted at small and medium-size investors, as well as corporates.

Further, to help with the development of local manpower with the skillsets to work in plastics conversion industries, Ladayn has announced plans to collaborate with a private specialized plastic processing training institute.

"Through such an (arrangement), the Park aims to (develop) a quality, skilful, well-trained and dedicated workforce. It will also provide continuous development of required technical skills. In addition, it could introduce a strong polymer curriculum in different colleges and universities in the country," it added.

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