Oman launches food security projects to boost domestic production and storage

Muscat: In collaboration with various government agencies and private sector partners, these initiatives are designed to promote public-private sector partnerships and ensure the availability of essential food supplies.

Eng. Salem bin Abdullah Al Ghafili, Director General of Food Security at the Ministry, highlighted the most prominent project – a pioneering sugar refining plant in Sohar Port. This groundbreaking project, the first of its kind in Oman, will occupy an area of 18,000 square meters and boasts a production capacity of one million tons annually. The facility, equipped with advanced European production lines, will produce high-quality refined sugar for local, regional, and global distribution. With 91% of the project completed, it is set to boost the Sultanate’s self-sufficiency in sugar production.
Another major initiative is the food industries center being developed by Salalah Mills Company at Khazaen Economic City, valued at approximately 18.5 million Omani riyals. This facility, which includes industrial bakeries and production lines for pastries, is expected to enter its trial production phase by the end of this year, with an initial output capacity of 1.4 million pieces per day.
In addition, the Ministry is advancing several projects to improve grain storage. A wheat silo at Sohar Port will increase capacity to 160,000 tons, ensuring the availability of essential grains. Furthermore, new silos are being planned at Salalah Port and Muttrah, which will add 200,000 metric tons of storage capacity.

The expansion of Oman Flour Mills Company’s feed factory in Muttrah is also underway, designed to meet rising demand for animal feed with a production capacity of 20 tons per day, plus a prepared mixtures unit capable of producing 6 tons per hour.

Moreover, a recent partnership between Khazaen Economic City and Zircon Food Industries will establish an integrated industrial complex specializing in rice, sugar, and spice product refining and packaging, alongside large-scale food storage facilities.

The Ministry continues to focus on securing a strategic stock of basic food commodities, including rice, wheat, sugar, lentils, milk, oil, and tea, to ensure their availability during emergencies. These stocks are maintained through a mix of imports, local procurement, and storage agreements, with 48 warehouses across Oman dedicated to managing these supplies.