As of August this year, construction has commenced on the development of a new Sino-Oman industrial city, at a 11.7 square kilometre site located at the Special Economic Zone in Duqm, Oman. The development originates from an agreement valued at US$10.7bn between the Oman government and Chinese investors which will see the city being organised into three separate zones – heavy manufacturing, light manufacturing and a mixed-use area.
The site which is based 550km south of the capital Muscat will feature 35 different projects, which will include Duqm’s second oil refinery with facilities able to process 235,000 barrels a day in addition to an aluminium smelter, magnesium plant, cement and glass factories and solar factory.
One of the main investors Ningxia China-Arab Wanfang which comprises of six private companies supported by the Ningxia regional Government has pledged to developing a minimum of 30% of the site by 2022, with projections for the city to be able house a population of 25,000 by that time.
Forming part of the wider Belt and Road initiative, the investment in Oman follows on from existing Chinese investments in infrastructure projects in Egypt and Saudi Arabia.
