Engineering giant Larsen & Toubro has said it is developing its facilities in Oman as a regional manufacturing hub to cater to the growing needs of the countries in the Gulf and beyond.
L&T's facilities at Sohar in Oman are already the company’s largest manufacturing footprint outside India — far larger than its plants in China, South East Asia and Europe — and are actively contributing to the economic growth of countries in the region, the company said in a statement.
The $14 billion technology, engineering, construction and manufacturing major’s twin facilities in Sohar consist of a large modular fabrication yard — the only such large facility in Oman and among few facilities in the region capable of loading out large structures weighing as much as 20,000 tonnes.
Adjoining the yard is a heavy engineering manufacturing facility that makes complex process plant equipment for the refining, petrochemical, fertilizer and power sectors, the Times of Oman reported.
Commencing production in 2007, the facilities already have a record of impressive technological accomplishments — a large of number of well—head platforms, offshore jack—up rigs, and multiple reactors with complex metallurgy.
But perhaps of even greater significance are the positive social changes and economic impact that the L&T Sohar Complex has brought about, the report said.
The Sohar complex has proved to be a valuable engine of economic growth and exports. As the only facility of its kind in Oman, and among the largest in the region, the yard is in a particularly advantageous position to meet the needs of the oil and gas industry of the region and beyond, it said.
Most of its products are exported to other countries in the Gulf, India, South East Asia, Europe and the Americas, thus, earning foreign exchange for the country. This trend is likely to grow in the future as the region prepares to accelerate growth through oil diversification policies and an extra focus on manufacturing.