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A joint venture operation owned by Oman Oil Marketing Company (Oman Oil) and Matrix Marine Holding GmbH (Matrix Marine) is expected to commence bunkering by barge at the Omani port of Sohar later this month, according to industry sources.

Omanoil Matrix Marine Services LLC is understood to be waiting to receive an environmental permit and other documentation from the government before commencing its barge supply activities in July.

The company already began carrying out deliveries of marine gasoil (MGO) by road tank wagon (RTW) last month.

The port of Sohar had announced in January that the new joint venture business would commence bunkering from mid-June 2010, offering marine fuels of different grades to vessels calling at the port of Sohar itself or at the extended anchorage area, which is located close to the international shipping route to and from Strait of Hormuz in the Gulf of Oman.

The port of Sohar granted a bunker licence to the Oman Oil and Matrix Marine joint venture on January 17th 2010.

Also on the same date, a bunker licence was granted to another business operation run by Shell Oman Marketing / Shell Marine Products in cooperation with Sohar Industrial Port Company SAOC (SIPC).

Speaking at the time, Jan Meijer, CEO of SIPC, said "With the increase of vessels calling the port and with the growing focus on the port of Sohar, we are very pleased to sign new important agreements that show our strengths and our progress and that we have such important global organizations like Shell Marine Products and Matrix Marine with their local partners directly involved."

SIPC added "As the port authority and landlord of the port of Sohar, SIPC stimulates additional services to facilitate these already imminent developments. Taking the requirements of vessels into account, it was only natural that, next to the existing services, the introduction of marine bunker fuels was considered."

Omar Ahmed Qatan, CEO of Omanoil said, “Omanoil is proud to be given the opportunity to jointly provide bunkering services at the port. We are collaborating with Matrix Marine Holding GmbH who will bring in their knowledge, experience and expertise in establishing the bunkering services in the port of Sohar.”

“Omanoil and Matrix Marine will offer quality products and services complying with customer’s requirements and high HSSE standards,” he added.

Stefan Herde, Managing Director of Matrix Marine said, “It is a privilege to be invited to establish a first class bunker service in such a modern and growing port like Sohar.

“We strongly believe that bunkers offered by Omanoil and Matrix Marine together will contribute further to the successful development of the port and that our service will attract additional vessel traffic to Sohar,” he added.