en.Wedoany.com Reported - SOHAR Port and Freezone has officially commenced construction of the Oman Zinc Industrial Park. This $50 million project, developed by Oman Zinc LLC within the freezone, is an industrial facility integrating zinc recycling and processing. His Excellency Sheikh Saif bin Khaled Al Raisi, a member of the Shura Council representing the Wilayat of Liwa, attended the groundbreaking ceremony.

Located on a 100,000-square-meter plot within SOHAR Freezone, the project will establish an integrated operation encompassing material recycling, refining, and the production and export of special high-grade zinc ingots and zinc oxide. Upon full operation, the facility is expected to produce approximately 100,000 metric tons of refined zinc ingots and 50,000 metric tons of zinc oxide annually, targeting markets in the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC), India, Pakistan, and the broader international market.

According to the plan, the project will be developed in two phases. Phase one focuses on processing zinc-containing materials and residues, alongside pilot production of SHG zinc ingots. Phase two will involve the construction of a full-scale SHG zinc ingot refinery and zinc oxide production plant, extending operations from primary material recycling to higher-value industrial processing. The zinc ingots and zinc oxide produced will support downstream industries such as galvanizing, alloys, batteries, and specialty chemicals, further enriching SOHAR's existing metals cluster. Additionally, by recycling zinc-containing residues into commercially viable products, the project embodies circular industrial principles, reducing waste of recyclable materials and unlocking additional economic value from industrial by-products.

Eng. Dr. Raid Al Rubaiey, CEO of SOHAR Freezone and Deputy CEO of SOHAR Port, noted that the project enhances resource efficiency through advanced manufacturing and downstream value creation, strengthening SOHAR's integrated metals ecosystem. Lin Feng, Chairman of Oman Zinc Group, stated that SOHAR's industrial infrastructure, maritime connectivity, and market access conditions were key factors in the group's investment decision, and that the construction of this facility marks a new phase in the group's international expansion and long-term commitment to Oman.