On May 18, 2017, JCCP held a signing ceremony at SQU to formalize a Memorandum of Agreement (MOA) on a joint project for refinery waste processing that is to be implemented with Sultan Qaboos University (SQU) and Oman Oil Refineries and Petroleum Industries Company (ORPIC). The three organizations were represented by Dr. Rahma Al-Mahrouqi, Deputy Vice-Chancellor of SQU; Mr. Christiaan van der Wouden, Chief Operating Officer of ORPIC; and Eiji Hiraoka, Senior Executive Director of JCCP.
Also attending the ceremony were Prof. Rashid Al-Maamari, Head of the Petroleum & Chemical Engineering Dept., from SQU; Mr. Manoel Fernandes, GM HSE, from ORPIC; H.E. Mitsugu Saito, Ambassador of Japan to Oman; and members from two Japanese companies participating in the joint project, Shimizu Corporation and Top Planning Japan Co., Ltd.
The project will consist of installing a waste processing unit in ORPIC’s Sohar Refinery and conducting a demonstration test for processing waste materials that are accumulated in oil refinery facilities using a 1/4th-scale unit. It will also examine methods for the recovery of valuable materials and for utilizing and processing residue.
JCCP has implemented a number of projects with SQU and ORPIC over many years, but this will be the first joint project to be conducted based on an MOA signed by all three parties. The project period will run for two years, from fiscal 2017 to 2018.