Marsa LNG Plant Marks Groundbreaking Ceremony in Oman to Lead Energy Transition in the Middle East

(IN BRIEF) The Marsa LNG plant, located in Sohar, Oman, celebrated its groundbreaking on May 1, 2025, marking a milestone for the Middle East’s energy industry. TotalEnergies and OQEP are developing the plant, which will produce 1 million tons of LNG per year starting in 2028, mainly for marine fuel. The plant will be one of the lowest-carbon intensity LNG plants globally, with a fully electrified design and a 300 MWp solar farm. It will also become the first LNG bunkering hub in the Middle East, reducing GHG emissions from shipping. The project supports Oman Vision 2040, contributing to energy sustainability and economic growth. The initiative represents a key step toward cleaner energy solutions for the global maritime sector.

(PRESS RELEASE) PARIS, 2-May-2025 — /EuropaWire/ — The groundbreaking of the Marsa LNG plant in Sohar, Oman, marks a significant milestone in the Middle East’s energy landscape. Under the patronage of His Excellency Eng. Salim bin Nasser Al Aufi, Minister of Energy & Minerals of the Sultanate of Oman, along with key leaders from TotalEnergies and OQ Exploration and Production (OQEP), the launch of this pioneering LNG facility was celebrated on May 1, 2025. This follows the final investment decision made a year ago and positions the Marsa LNG plant as one of the lowest-carbon intensity LNG plants globally.

The Marsa LNG plant, a joint venture between TotalEnergies (80%) and OQEP (20%), is designed with a production capacity of 1 million tons per year (Mt/y). Slated to begin operations in early 2028, it will primarily supply the rapidly growing marine fuel market in the Gulf, playing a crucial role in supporting the shipping industry’s transition to more sustainable energy sources.

An innovative aspect of Marsa LNG is its commitment to sustainability. The plant will be entirely electrified, with a 300 MWp photovoltaic solar farm to meet all of its energy needs. This configuration will result in one of the world’s lowest carbon intensity LNG plants, reducing emissions to less than 3 kg CO2e/boe—90% lower than the global LNG industry average.

The project will also establish the first marine LNG bunkering hub in the Middle East, strategically located at the Gulf’s entrance. Marsa LNG has already signed a charter for the construction of a dedicated LNG bunkering vessel, Monte Shams, which will be stationed in Sohar by 2028. This vessel will supply LNG to a wide range of vessels, including container ships, tankers, and large cruise ships, further contributing to reducing GHG emissions in maritime transport.

Patrick Pouyanné, Chairman and CEO of TotalEnergies, expressed his pride in this joint initiative, stating that the Marsa LNG plant sets a new standard for low-carbon LNG production and supports the long-term energy transition. The project also provides an immediate solution for the shipping industry, offering LNG as a cleaner fuel in a prime location.

His Excellency Salim bin Nasser Al Aufi, Oman’s Minister of Energy and Minerals, highlighted the project’s alignment with Oman Vision 2040, reinforcing the country’s commitment to sustainable energy solutions and economic diversification. The Marsa LNG plant is set to play a critical role in developing cleaner energy infrastructure while creating jobs and advancing industrial innovation in the region.

Ahmed Al Azkawi, CEO of OQEP, emphasized that the Marsa LNG project embodies OQEP’s commitment to sustainable and innovative energy solutions, which will solidify Oman’s position as a leader in the global energy sector.

TotalEnergies in Oman

TotalEnergies has been present in Oman since 1937.
The Company launched in 2024 a flagship project, the integrated Marsa LNG project (80%), which combines natural gas production from Block 10, a full electric liquefaction plant of 1Mt/y capacity intended to serve as the first LNG bunkering hub in the Middle East and a dedicated 300 MWp PV solar plant. TotalEnergies’ oil and gas production in Oman was 65 kboe/d in 2024.TotalEnergies produces oil in Block 6 (4%), natural gas in Block 10 (26.55% via Marsa LNG LLC) as well as LNG through its participation in Oman LNG (5.54%)/Qalhat LNG (2.04% via Oman LNG). On the onshore Block 11 (22.5%), three positive appraisal wells were performed in 2023 and 2024.
The Company contributes actively to the development of renewables in the country with currently a 600 MW portfolio and the willingness to grow further.

TotalEnergies, the world’s third largest LNG player

TotalEnergies is the world’s third largest LNG player with a global portfolio of 40 Mt/y in 2024 thanks to its interests in liquefaction plants in all geographies. The Company benefits from an integrated position across the LNG value chain, including production, transportation, access to more than 20 Mt/y of regasification capacity in Europe, trading, and LNG bunkering. TotalEnergies’ ambition is to increase the share of natural gas in its sales mix to close to 50% by 2030, to reduce carbon emissions and aim for zero methane emissions associated with the gas value chain, and to work with local partners to promote the transition from coal to natural gas.

TotalEnergies supports the role of LNG in shipping’s energy transition

Marine LNG sharply reduces emissions from ships and significantly improves air quality, in particular when at berth, for the benefit of port cities and communities in coastal areas. Used as a marine fuel, LNG helps to cut greenhouse gas emissions by up to 23% compared to conventional marine fuel and has the potential to reduce emissions significantly more if bio or synthetic LNG is used. As such, marine LNG is a more sustainable, affordable and immediately available way of reducing emissions in the shipping sector. TotalEnergies has actively invested in LNG bunkering infrastructure, critical to supporting its shipping customers’ adoption of LNG as a marine fuel. The Company currently deploys three LNG bunker vessels: the Gas Agility at the Port of Rotterdam, Netherlands, the Gas Vitality at the Port of Marseille-Fos, France, and the Brassavola at the Port of Singapore.

About OQEP

OQEP was incorporated on 20 May 2009 and registered in the Sultanate of Oman as a limited liability company and was then converted to an SAOC on the Commercial Register on 15 July 2024. On October 28, 2024, OQEP successfully listed its shares, and become a public joint stock Company.
The Company’s core business activities include extraction of crude petroleum and natural gas, drilling of oil and natural gas wells, service activities incidental to the extraction of petroleum and natural gas (excluding surveying) and exploration and prospecting activities for oil or gas fields. The Company is Oman’s largest pure-play oil and gas exploration and production company. It is also one of the largest holders of oil and gas reserves in Oman, producing 227,800 barrels of oil equivalent per day in 2024. The mission of the Company is to safely and efficiently explore commercially viable oil and gas opportunities across its contract areas in a way that can be monetised efficiently to support the Company’s growth aspirations. The Company’s exploration programme is designed to drive reserves replenishment to support its future growth.
For more information about OQEP, please visit: www.oqep.om

About TotalEnergies

TotalEnergies is a global integrated energy company that produces and markets energies: oil and biofuels, natural gas and green gases, renewables and electricity. Our more than 100,000 employees are committed to provide as many people as possible with energy that is more reliable, more affordable and more sustainable. Active in about 120 countries, TotalEnergies places sustainability at the heart of its strategy, its projects and its operations.

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The terms “TotalEnergies”, “TotalEnergies company” or “Company” in this document are used to designate TotalEnergies SE and the consolidated entities that are directly or indirectly controlled by TotalEnergies SE. Likewise, the words “we”, “us” and “our” may also be used to refer to these entities or to their employees. The entities in which TotalEnergies SE directly or indirectly owns a shareholding are separate legal entities. TotalEnergies SE has no liability for the acts or omissions of these entities. This document may contain forward-looking information and statements that are based on a number of economic data and assumptions made in a given economic, competitive and regulatory environment. They may prove to be inaccurate in the future and are subject to a number of risk factors. Neither TotalEnergies SE nor any of its subsidiaries assumes any obligation to update publicly any forward-looking information or statement, objectives or trends contained in this document whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise. Information concerning risk factors, that may affect TotalEnergies’ financial results or activities is provided in the most recent Registration Document, the French-language version of which is filed by TotalEnergies SE with the French securities regulator Autorité des Marchés Financiers (AMF), and in the Form 20-F filed with the United States Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC).

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