Utility services for Oman’s development and diversification

October 27, 2025

Abdulrahman Al Kharusi, acting managing director of Marafiq, talks to The Energy Year about how the company’s one-stop-shop model for developers in the Special Economic Zone at Duqm (SEZAD) is helping Oman reach its sustainability goals. Marafiq is a joint venture between OQ and Gulf Energy Development that offers utility services to investors in Duqm Industrial Zone.

Why is Marafiq’s one-stop-shop model attractive to industrial investors in Duqm?
The core value we offer is full responsibility for providing comprehensive utility services. While the investors are focusing on their core businesses, Marafiq will take care of and manage the required infrastructure for utility services. This can result in significant cost efficiency, as investors can rely on Marafiq’s established assets. We benchmark our practices against international standards, drawing insights from global leaders in utility management to make our services competitive, reliable and future-ready.
When Duqm’s development began, there was no grid connection. Marafiq filled this gap and continues to offer reliable, competitively priced utility services. Our infrastructure includes a 326-MW IWPP, an 80-MW power facility and water production assets capable of delivering up to 1.5 million cubic metres per day of potable, industrial and process water.
Marafiq is also licensed to serve all residential and non-residential users in the zone, offering end-to-end services from production to customer billing. Recent expansions include wastewater treatment, supported by international partners in environmental solutions. Marafiq is also looking to expand beyond utility provision in SEZAD into industrial gases and essential infrastructure services.

How are you catering to new industrial clients?
We are aligned with four high-growth industries: steel, oil, data and green hydrogen. Each sector requires tailored utilities, and Marafiq ensures readiness from construction to commissioning and operations.
Our current engagements span major industrial projects in advanced stages of development, including initiatives in metals processing, petrochemicals and large-scale storage infrastructure. We have extended our power network with more than 80 kilometres of high-voltage transmission lines to support assets such as crude storage terminals and industrial complexes.
We are also partnering with data infrastructure and green hydrogen developers. This includes discussions on customised supply agreements with large energy users such as data centres, and the provision of water for green hydrogen production, supporting national ambitions to become a global hydrogen hub.

 

What role does Marafiq play in helping Oman meet its sustainability and diversification goals?
Marafiq is advancing sustainability and ESG initiatives with its strategic framework, which establishes our long-term direction for playing a key role in Oman’s sustainability and diversification objectives. As an enabler of key projects in Duqm, we align with Oman Vision 2040 regarding the environment and natural resources and Oman’s commitment to achieving net-zero emissions by 2050. We are also backing the country’s efforts to become a green hydrogen hub, supporting H.M. Sultan Haitham bin Tariq’s efforts to position the nation globally.
Our sustainability contributions include water technologies, such as our advancements in RO [reverse osmosis plant optimisation, showcased recently at Oman Water Week, which save power and cut costs. Additionally, the company is embracing circular-economy principles; for example, by repurposing materials.

Is expansion outside Duqm part of your strategy?
While our current licence covers Duqm, we are exploring opportunities in the rest of Oman and the GCC. We are in discussions with major energy players about forming consortiums to deliver utility services or build power plants. The goal is to extend our one-stop-shop model wherever it adds value.

What is Marafiq’s strategic vision for the next five years?
Our strategy is built around people, growth, partnerships and performance. Marafiq’s vision for the next five years is built around the core principle that our people are our most valuable asset. We are committed to cultivating a high-performance, inclusive culture that empowers every employee so they can excel. This vision is underpinned by our focus on leadership development, continuous training and establishing a robust talent pipeline aligned with our business objectives.
As of the end of May 2025, Marafiq has achieved an Omanisation rate of around 80%, up from 65% in 2022, and we continue to ensure localisation is a vital part of our overall people strategy.
Regarding growth, we aim to expand through SPVs and consortiums, either independently or with regional energy leaders. We are enabling Oman’s positioning as a green energy hub and anchoring our expansion in sectors ranging from hydrogen and petrochemicals to steel and crypto mining. We are expanding not only in volume but also in service scope, introducing cooling systems, steam, industrial gases and more.

How does Marafiq pursue operational excellence, sustainability and digitalisation?
Marafiq ensures the availability and operational excellence of its infrastructure through a proactive, data-driven maintenance strategy underpinned by reliability, responsiveness and continuous improvement. A structured preventive maintenance programme is implemented across all critical assets using condition monitoring techniques to detect early signs of equipment stress and prevent unplanned downtime. Corrective maintenance is addressed promptly to minimise operational impact.
Marafiq continues to maintain its quality and HSE systems in line with international standards, being certified to ISO 9001, ISO 14001 and ISO 45001 standards. As part of its HSE performance, Marafiq has achieved zero fatalities and zero Lost Time Injuries.
We operate with the highest standards of digital excellence, driving our business through smart, data-driven solutions. Digitalisation empowers our water operations with real-time control, efficiency and proactive service delivery. We embed strong cybersecurity measures across all platforms to ensure safety, resilience and trust.
Our commitment to innovation supports national goals and positions us as a leader in smart utility services. We will continue to offer competitive compensation packages and comprehensive social welfare programmes, ensuring our employees receive the support they need to succeed. By promoting an environment of innovation, collaboration and well-being, Marafiq aspires to be recognised as the employer of choice within the utilities sector, driving sustainable growth and operational excellence.
CSR leadership at Marafiq is demonstrated through impactful initiatives that align business success with community empowerment. We proudly support education by sponsoring students for international English programmes, recognising top graduates in Duqm, and building a dedicated nursery to nurture early childhood learning. Environmentally, we invest in sustainability by funding the Strong Motion Network and providing free water network installations for welfare families.
As of the end of May 2025, Marafiq has supported a total of 3,587 welfare families by providing potable water, benefiting almost 17,935 individuals in total. These efforts reflect our belief that strong leadership drives lasting social, educational, and environmental impact.
Marafiq is dedicated to upholding the highest standards of governance, compliance, and transparency. We consistently align our operations with the best practices, ensuring that all our efforts are conducted ethically, responsibly, and in full adherence to laws, regulations and the established standards.

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