The Middle East Energy

Domestic gas requirements are set to expand rapidly over the next few years as Oman’s industrial base expands and as the utilities sector grows to keep pace with rising demand for water and electricity. However, officials have said projected increases in gas production will be managed to ensure supplies can be guaranteed over the long term.

The recent approval of bids worth more than $12bn has paved the way for a major overhaul of two of Kuwait’s refineries, following costly shutdowns earlier this year.

A drive aimed at encouraging Qatar’s citizens to set up in business is gaining pace, as the government moves to increase the private sector’s contribution to the national economy through regulatory changes and stronger support for entrepreneurs.

Following the choice of a Russian consortium to build Jordan’s first nuclear power plant, the government hopes it will help alleviate problems far beyond the obvious ones in the kingdom’s energy sector.

As Turkey looks to diversify its sources of natural gas, one option that is coming closer to reality is a deal with the Kurdistan Regional Government to build an oil and gas pipeline from northern Iraq. While this link would help consolidate Turkey’s position a regional energy corridor, it risks upsetting relations with Iraq.

As Oman looks to tap further into its maturing fields, enhanced oil recovery (EOR) techniques the country has been instrumental in pioneering are playing an increasingly central role. Ensuring steady-to-rising output levels in the hydrocarbons sector will help insulate the Sultanate from the effects of any sustained decline in global oil prices.