About Us

Who We Are

Oman’s only integrated producer of methanol, ammonia, and LPG products, located in the Dhofar region.

Our agile and compact facility in the Salalah Free Zone, is designed to be flexible and responsive, enabling us to quickly adapt to market demands and consistently meet the needs of our clients, both locally and globally.

Equipped with advanced infrastructure and technical expertise, we deliver reliable, high-quality products for critical and innovative applications, from consumer product manufacturing to alternative fuel production. This operational excellence highlights our ability to efficiently transform resources into valuable products.

Our Team

OQBI Leadership

Board of Directors

Executive Team

Ali Al Lawati

Chairman of the Board
Ali Al Lawati has over 20 years of experience, including 8+ years internationally, and currently serves as Chief People & Technology Officer at OQ SAOC. He drives portfolio diversification, industry localisation, investment attraction, SME development, job creation, diversity, and local talent growth. Previously, as Global HR Director at Schlumberger, he oversaw multiple corporate functions across Paris, London, and Houston. Earlier, as Regional Managing Director, he led Schlumberger’s operations in Oman and Pakistan with 3,000+ employees, securing strategic partnerships and establishing Oman’s largest integrated operational base. He also advanced new energy initiatives, including geothermal applications and sustainable technologies, supporting the Sultanate’s long-term goals. Ali holds a bachelor’s degree in Petroleum & Natural Gas Engineering from Sultan Qaboos University.

Saleh Al Mahthuri

Deputy Chairman

Saleh Al Mahthuri has 20 years of experience in finance, accounting and auditing. He is the General Manager of Internal Audit of Port of Salalah. Previously, he served as Chief Internal Auditor for Nama Electricity Supply Company and held positions at Oman Oil Exploration & Production, Daleel Petroleum and Occidental Petroleum Corporation.  Saleh holds a bachelor’s degree in accounting from Sultan Qaboos University (Oman) and a Master’s in Management Information Technology (MIT) and Governance from the Canadian University Dubai (UAE). He is a Certified Internal Auditor from the Institute of Internal Auditors (IIA), a Lecturer and a board member of the Education Committee of the IIA Oman Chapter.

Hamed Al Rumhi

Member
Hamed Al Rumhi has over 14 years of experience in leadership, human capital management and organisational development. He is the Services Director at Takatuf Oman. Previously, Hamed served as a Managing Consultant at Takatuf Oman and as the Organisation Development and Learning Manager at Shell Development Oman, he served as the Human Capital Manager at OQ Exploration and Production (July 2016 – October 2019). He also held positions of HR & Support Services Manager at Takatuf Oman, HR Manager at RAY International Oil & Gas and the Omanisation & Planning Specialist at Occidental Oman. Hamed holds a Bachelor of Commerce and Economics degree from Sultan Qaboos University (Oman).

Bader AlHamad

Member
Bader AlHamad is a Director in the Principal Investment Group at Gulf Investment Corporation (GIC), bringing significant international experience. He previously worked at Dow Chemical Company in Zurich, where he handled commercial and supply chain operations. At GIC, Bader plays a key role in strategic investment decisions and governance, serving on several boards of directors across manufacturing, chemicals, and education sectors within the GCC. He holds a bachelor’s degree in chemical engineering from Vanderbilt University and has enhanced his expertise through general management programs at the University of Chicago Booth School of Business and Brown Brothers Harriman in New York.

Salim Al Habsi

Member
Salim Al Habsi is a seasoned leader with over 20 years of experience in portfolio and project management across energy, petrochemical, and industrial sectors. He specializes in optimizing strategic asset portfolios, driving value creation, and aligning investments with long-term corporate goals. Currently serving as Vice President – Portfolio Management at OQ SAOC, he leads portfolio oversight and supports strategic decision-making to maximize asset value. He holds an Executive MBA from the University of Hull, UK, and a Bachelor’s in Electrical and Electronics Engineering from Sultan Qaboos University.

Ali Al Kharusi

Member
Ali is a Director of Financial Affairs in Military and Security Services Pension Fund with nearly 20 years of experience. He started his career with the Ministry of Defense pension as pension payroll specialist and then occupied many leadership roles in the Finance Department as accounts lead, assistant manager of account, assistant manager of finance (investment) and deputy director of financial affairs. He also successfully led different committees and projects internally as well as externally. Ali is certified by the Association of Chartered Certified Accountants (ACCA) with a bachelor’s degree in accounting and an MBA from Sultan Qaboos University. Ali currently holds a board membership at Shell Oman Marketing SAOG, Emdad logistics SAOC and Oman Tourism Company LLC with previous board memberships in Tilal Fund, Oman Growth Fund, and Al Madina Insurance Company SAOG.

Abdullah Al Harthi

Member
Abdullah Alharthy is an accomplished energy sector professional spanning technical, operational, and strategic leadership roles. He holds a Bachelor’s degree in Chemical Engineering with a minor in Nanotechnology from Monash University in Australia. Abdullah began his career at Schlumberger as a Fracturing and Stimulation Engineer before joining OQ Group, where he advanced into corporate planning and performance management. During his tenure, he led multiple functions, including Corporate Performance Management and Planning & Performance Management for the Downstream & Commercial business unit. Currently, Abdullah serves as Head of the GCEO Office at OQ SAOC, driving strategic initiatives and executive priorities. In addition to his corporate responsibilities, he is a Board Member and Chairman of the Board Audit and Risk Committee at Marafiq, a Utility company in Duqm. He also previously served as a Board Member at GS EPS in South Korea, one of OQ’s international investments.

Ihsan Al Jandal

Acting CEO & Chief Operating Officer .

Ihsan Al Jandal has over 20 years of diverse experience in the petrochemical and energy industries. Prior to his current role, Ihsan served as Vice President of Operations at OQ and Director of Maintenance & Engineering, Maintenance Manager and Head of the Mechanical Department at the Company. He also worked as a mechanical engineer at Oman India Fertiliser Company SAOC and a field services engineer at GE Oil & Gas.

 

Ihsan holds a Bachelor of Engineering (BEng) in Mechanical Engineering from Loughborough University (UK).

Ahmed Al Baraami

Chief Finance Officer

Ahmed Al Baraami has over 20 years of extensive experience in leading financial operations, strategic planning and corporate governance mainly in the petrochemical and oil and gas sectors. Prior to his current position, Ahmed served as Vice President of Finance & Contracts at the Company and previously held the role of Finance Manager overseeing the finance function at the Company. He has also served as General Manager at Safayn Shipping Company and was the Director of Strategic Planning at Gulf Energy SAOC. Additionally, Ahmed has held various positions in prominent Middle Eastern oil and gas companies such as Schlumberger, where he began his career abroad spanning the U.S., Qatar and the UAE, focusing on internal auditing and financial management, leading audit teams and implementing cost-saving strategies across international operations.

Ahmed holds a Master of Business Administration (MBA) from the University of Houston-Clear Lake (USA) and a Bachelor of Science in Accounting from University of Jordan (Jordan).

Ahmed Muqaibal

Chief Executive – People & Technology.

Ahmed Muqaibal has over 20 years of extensive experience with a diverse background spanning over two decades. Ahmed has held various leadership roles like Head of Assurance People & Culture and Director of Support Services at the Company, as well as General Manager of Support Services at Oman Tank Terminal Company LLC. Prior to joining the OQ Group, Ahmed worked as Procurement Manager (Network & IT) for Ooredoo and Contracts Engineer & Supply Chain analyst for PDO and Occidental Petroleum Corp. Early in his career, Ahmed had gained valuable experience in the logistic field as a Procurement and In-Country Value manager at various oil and gas and telecom companies. He brings a wealth of expertise in people management, technology integration and cultural enhancement. He holds a proven track record of driving organisational excellence and fostering innovation across various domains.

 

Ahmed holds a Bachelor’s degree in Business Administration and Management Information Systems from University of Arizona (USA) and a Chartered Institute of Procurement and Supply (CIPS) certification.

Our Mission

To drive sustainable growth and operational excellence by cultivating a people-focused culture through energy-efficient decarbonisation initiatives and domestic growth.

Our Vision

Championing a global reach and sustainable solutions by leveraging the skills and experience of exceptional talent.

Our Values

Belong

We foster an inclusive culture where everyone feels a sense of belonging and works towards common goals.

Perform

We are driven by excellence and dedicated to performing according to the highest standards, in everything we do.

Collaborate

We believe in the power of collaboration to achieve smarter, more innovative outcomes.

Care

We care about the impact of our actions on the world around us and contributing to a better future.

Overview

Our Journey

OQBI’s journey of downstream production started in 2010. As a leading regional provider of chemical products, we operate three state-of-the-art plants that produce methanol, ammonia, and LPG products. We employ leading-edge technologies to ensure exceptional efficiency and sustainability in all our operations.

2006

Salalah Methanol Company was formed in 2006 by Oman Oil Company as a state-of-the-art methanol production facility.

2010

Commissioning of methanol plant.

2014

The ammonia plant project was formed.

2016

The liquified petroleum gas plant project (Salalah LPG) was formed.

2018

Oman Oil Company SAOC and Orpic Group integrated to forge the Oman Oil and Orpic Group.

2019

Oman Oil and Orpic Group unveils its new brand (OQ).

2021

Commissioning of LPG plant.

2022

Commissioning of ammonia plant.

2024
OQ Methanol acquires OQ LPG and unveils OQBI brand identity.

2010

Commissioning of methanol plant.

2014

The ammonia plant project was formed.

2016

The liquified petroleum gas plant project (Salalah LPG) was formed.

2018

Oman Oil Company SAOC and Orpic Group integrated to forge the Oman Oil and Orpic Group.

2019

Oman Oil and Orpic Group unveils its new brand (OQ).
OQ, the global energy company, has completed the incorporation of international assets Oxea and Oman Trading International (OTI), the final step in an integration process that began in 2018 and ultimately brought nine legacy companies under a new, unified brand identity.

2021

Commissioning of LPG plant.

2022

Commissioning of ammonia plant.

2024

OQ Methanol acquires OQ LPG and unveils OQBI brand identity.

Safety First, Always

Health, safety, security, and environment

Our commitment to health, safety, security, and environmental excellence
We recognise that the risks associated with our business activities can potentially have a serious impact if not managed appropriately. As such, safety is an absolute priority for OQBI. We are systematic and proactive in identifying and managing workplace and operational risks to ensure the wellbeing of our people, the safety of our operations and the protection of the environment.