Oman’s domestic gas needs raise LNG doubts

Dip in reserves amid soaring power needs raise concerns about the country’s plans for a new LNG train

Oman may struggle to meet demand from a new 3.8mt/yr LNG train plus existing facilities unless it can contain surging power demand and boost exploration, with gas reserves dropping by 5% year-on-year, to 23tcf, at the end of 2023. Gas consumption in the Omani power sector soared by 72% over January–November from the same period a year earlier, compared with a decrease of 3.2%, 8.2% and 8.5% for industrial areas, industrial projects and oilfields respectively over the same period, according to the latest public statistics. Oman’s power sector burned 15bcm in 2024, accounting for almost a third of the country’s 56.5bcm of supply, which is composed of domestic production and Qatari imports, com