24-07-2018

ORPIC selects HYPRON® cable from Nexans

Worldwide demand for high and low density polyethylene is increasing, especially within Asia, where it is an important raw material for the manufacture of various plastic products for both domestic and industrial uses. Oman Oil Refineries and Petroleum Industries Company (Orpic) is aiming to meet this demand with its $4.5 billion Liwa Plastics Industries Complex (LPIC) project that is a vital element in the Sultanate’s program to reduce its overall reliance upon the export of natural gas and crude oil by further developing Oman’s downstream industry. Nexans is playing a vital role in the LPIC project by providing a variety of instrumentation and fiber optic telecommunication cables that will be supplied via Rexel, the global cable distributor.

LPIC, Oman’s first integrated downstream petrochemicals complex
Orpic’s project to build LPIC is an example of the transformation journey undertaken by the company to diversify its business. The cutting-edge complex will include a refinery, aromatics plant, steam cracker and downstream polypropylene and polyethylene plants, making it one of the best integrated refinery and petrochemical facility combinations in the world. Thanks to the new facility, plastics production will be increased by 1 million tonnes, allowing Orpic for a total of 1.4 million tonnes of polyethylene and polypropylene production by 2020. It is anticipated that 150 technicians and 350 operators will be required to manage the new facilities, which are also expected to create more than 1,200 jobs in the local area.

LPIC will be equipped with Nexans’ instrumentation, fibre optic telecommunication cables and fieldbus cables, supplied through the Group’s established partnership with Rexel. These cables feature Nexans’ innovative HYPRON® design developed and tested to provide an alternative to lead-sheath cables for onshore oil & gas installations, especially within refineries and petrochemical installations in moist areas where corrosive aromatic hydrocarbons are present. Nexans HYPRON® cables contribute to cleaner environment by avoiding lead exposure and emissions thanks to three concentric, co-extruded sheaths which provide water tightness as well as resistance to inorganic and organic chemicals (such as chlorine and synthetic oils as well as aromatics, benzene, petrol).

“It is a big honor for Nexans to contribute to the development of Oman by bringing our global expertise to the Sultanate’s large-scale and forward-looking projects, such as the LPIC,” said Orlando Vaquero, Nexans O&G Downstream ISP Global Market Director. “The scope of Nexans’ technical capability, together with the complete ‘one stop shop’ we offer in cooperation with Rexel, made the difference in persuading Orpic that we can deliver the quality, performance and fast response they require.”

The LPIC project will enter the commissioning phase at the end of 2018 ready for commercial operation from 2020.