MUSCAT: Oman’s natural gas production and imports rose 5.6 per cent to 39,806 million cubic metres (MNCM) in 2015, up from 37,687 MNCM in 2014.
Of this, while non-associated gas and imports showed a growth of 6.2 per cent to 32,806 MNCM, associated gas production rose 3.1 per cent to 7,001 MNCM, according to the latest statistics released by the National Centre for Statistics and Information (NCSI). A sizable portion of natural gas in Oman is used by various mega industrial projects, which stood at 22,036 MNCM last year, against 21,169 MNCM in 2014.
Natural gas is also used in oil fields, either for producing steam water or for reinjection, with as much as 8,773 MNCM in natural gas being used in oil fields, against 7,838 MNCM units consumed in 2014.
Additionally, natural gas consumption grew in line with growth in crude production from enhanced oil recovery projects. Overall crude oil production grew by 4 per cent to 358.10 million barrels in 2015, from 344.37 million barrels in2014.
Other major consumers of natural gas in Oman include power producers, small-scale industries and liquefied natural gas plants. Natural gas used by power and desalination plants stood 4.1 per cent higher, at 8,324 MNCM, for 2015.
The Oman Power and Water Procurement Company (OPWP) estimates gas consumption in the electricity and water desalination sector to rise substantially in the next five years, mainly due to a robust growth in capacity to support the growing demand for power and water.
While the national demand for gas will rise sharply over the coming five years, the rate of increase is by no means evenly distributed, with requirements set to spike in some regions, officials noted.
Also, several mega industrial projects are waiting for natural gas commitments from the Oman government, prior to proceeding with their proposed expansion programmes. In fact, the Ministry of Oil and Gas is responsible for supplying gas to various consumers and the obligations are set out within the agreements.
