SOHAR Port and Freezone has signed a $50 million (RO 19.2 million) investment agreement with Oman Zinc, to develop a Zinc Ash Recycling Industrial Park on a 10-hectare site within SOHAR Freezone.
Designed to convert steelmaking by-products into high-value industrial materials, the project further positions SOHAR as a regional center for sustainable metals processing and circular economy manufacturing.
Developed in phases, the industrial park will process zinc ash and Electric Arc Furnace (EAF) dust to produce up to 10,000 tons annually of refined zinc ingots and 50,000 tons per year of rubber-grade zinc oxide.
These products will serve fast-growing downstream industries across the GCC, Southeast Asia, Europe and Africa, supporting applications in galvanizing, alloys, rubber manufacturing, batteries and specialty chemicals. Leveraging SOHAR’s integrated ecosystem, feedstock will be imported and handled through the port from both local and international suppliers, creating a seamless value chain that links global shipping routes directly to processing, storage and export-oriented manufacturing within the Freezone.
The investment strengthens the Port and Freezone’s expanding metals cluster and reinforces its role as a hub for export-driven manufacturing. By diverting industrial by-products from disposal and transforming them into high-value exports, the facility will significantly reduce the environmental impact of steelmaking while generating additional demand across logistics, maintenance and industrial services.
Raid Al Rubaiey CEO – SOHAR Freezone , Deputy CEO – SOHAR Port
“This investment demonstrates the strength of SOHAR’s integrated ecosystem and the confidence international partners place in Oman as a base for advanced, sustainable manufacturing. By linking zinc recycling to global shipping routes, we are building new value chains, supporting diversification, and advancing national resource efficiency.”
Lin Feng, Chairman of Oman Zinc, said that, “SOHAR Port and Freezone stands out as the strategic gateway for our international expansion, offering strong logistics connectivity, world-class infrastructure, and direct access to high-growth markets. This investment reflects our confidence as a premier destination for sustainable industry, where innovative recycling meets long-term profitability and regional leadership.”
This development, aligned with Oman Vision 2040, advances resource efficiency, accelerates circular economy outcomes, and expands the nation’s portfolio of sustainability-led industrial projects.
