OTTCO opens EPC tender for Ras Markaz oil park expansion at Duqm, targeting 200 million barrel capacity

Oman Tank Terminal Company (OTTCO), a subsidiary of OQ Group, has formally opened an expression of interest process for the EPC phase of the Ras Markaz oil park expansion—one of the largest infrastructure projects currently underway in the country. Located within the Special Economic Zone at Duqm, the project targets a storage capacity of up to 200 million barrels of crude oil. Interested contractors have until August 4, 2026, to submit their expressions of interest.

OTTCO launches EPC expression of interest process

OTTCO has kicked off the prequalification process, inviting contractors to submit expressions of interest for the EPC phase of the Ras Markaz expansion. The deadline is August 4, 2026—giving firms a defined window to pull together their credentials.

Both international companies and locally registered Omani firms are eligible to apply. Local applicants, though, need to be registered with the Ministry of Commerce, Industry, and Investment Promotion to qualify.

Future infrastructure will include marine loading facilities, subsea pipelines, and water treatment systems capable of handling multiple crude grades.

The entry bar is high. Bidders must demonstrate a proven track record in large-scale crude oil storage—tank farms, complex terminal infrastructure, the full picture. OTTCO wants contractors who’ve done this before and done it at scale.

Why Oman is expanding the Ras Markaz facility

The expansion doesn’t exist in a vacuum. It fits directly into Oman’s broader push to diversify its economy and reduce dependence on oil revenues, with world-class energy logistics infrastructure sitting at the core of that strategy.

Scaling up Ras Markaz is meant to strengthen the country’s position as a hub for crude oil storage, blending, and export—pulling in more global energy trade flows and the revenue that follows.

There’s also a deliberate local angle. OTTCO structured the EPC tender to bring in international engineering expertise while actively encouraging Omani industry participation. That balance between global standards and local involvement sits at the heart of the Duqm development mandate. It’s not just about building tanks—it’s about building an industry ecosystem around a strategic asset.

Projected capacity and infrastructure growth

The numbers are worth paying attention to. The expanded Ras Markaz facility is designed to eventually reach up to 200 million barrels of crude oil storage capacity—a massive jump from where things stand today.

Right now, eight storage tanks are up and running on site, with a combined capacity of around 5.2 million barrels. The gap between that figure and the 200 million barrel target says everything about the scale of what’s still ahead.

Future phases go well beyond tanks. The facility is planned to include integrated marine loading facilities, subsea pipelines, and advanced water treatment systems—infrastructure that’ll allow the site to handle multiple grades of crude, which is a key requirement for any serious blending and export hub. Each layer added increases operational flexibility, and flexibility is exactly what global crude traders look for when deciding where to store and route their cargoes.

Strategic location outside the Strait of Hormuz

Geography is one of Ras Markaz’s strongest selling points. The site covers 15.4 square miles (40 square kilometers) within the Special Economic Zone at Duqm and, crucially, sits outside the Strait of Hormuz.

That matters more than it might initially seem. The Strait is one of the world’s most critical—and most geopolitically sensitive—oil transit chokepoints, with a significant share of global crude exports moving through it. Any disruption there sends shockwaves through energy markets.

Positioning Ras Markaz outside the Strait gives Oman something genuinely useful to offer: a storage and export hub accessible to major shipping lanes without the same geopolitical exposure. Routes linking Asia, Africa, and Europe all pass within reach. That geographic advantage reinforces Oman’s broader ambition to become a key node in the global petroleum supply chain—a role that depends on infrastructure, yes, but also on location. Ras Markaz has both.

A demonstrated track record in large-scale crude oil storage

Here’s where things stand. OTTCO, under OQ Group, has opened a formal EPC expression of interest process for the next phase of the Ras Markaz oil park expansion at the Special Economic Zone in Duqm.

The submission deadline is August 4, 2026. International contractors and locally registered Omani firms can both apply, provided they meet the technical and financial requirements—including a demonstrated track record in large-scale crude oil storage and terminal infrastructure.

The facility’s long-term target is up to 200 million barrels of storage capacity, a significant scale-up from the current eight tanks and 5.2 million-barrel baseline. Future infrastructure will include marine loading facilities, subsea pipelines, and water treatment systems capable of handling multiple crude grades. For Oman, Ras Markaz isn’t just an infrastructure project—it’s a long-term bid for a real role in global energy logistics.

Kelly Lippke

Kelly is an experienced writer with 15 years of experience exploring the big stories that shape our world, from tech breakthroughs and space exploration to climate, energy, and the fascinating quirks of science. She has a talent for turning complex ideas into sharp, memorable insights that stay with readers long after they’ve finished reading.