Oman Daily Observer reported that two more shipments of critical pipe mill equipment and auxiliary items for Gulf International Pipe Industry LLC arrived from South Korea recently at the Port of Sohar.

The shipments, weighing a total of 2,500 tonnes, including a slitting machine, pipe mill equipment and finishing line systems, have now been delivered at GIPI site in Sohar. Civil works for the machine foundation of the pipe mill is in its final stages, while building structure erection has been completed for both pipe mill plant and coating mill plant.

As per report, machine installation works will commence by the third week of March and will be completed by July. Testing and pre-commissioning is planned to be completed by September and commercial production is scheduled to commence October 1st 2009. EPC equipment supplier Milltech has so far delivered three shipments and is committed to delivering the remaining shipments ahead of schedule.

GIPI will be the first high pressure steel pipe and casing mill of 24 inches to be operated in the GCC region. This mill will further enhance the Sultanate's aspirations to reduce dependency on imports of finished products needed to service its strategic oil and gas sectors. This downstream venture in the Sultanate will complement similar efforts by the government towards promotion of local industries. The shareholders of GIPI are Oman Investment Corporation, Golden Dunes Investments, Gulf Investment Corporation, POSCO steel Services and Sales Company and Arkan Group LLC.

(Sourced from Oman Daily Observer)