MUSCAT, 31 March 2005 — Qalhat LNG, in which the Omani government has 55.84 percent stake, yesterday signed a loan agreement worth $688 million rials with 13 international banks to launch the third LNG train early next year.
Roger Warby, the Paris-based director of project finance of Calyon, the mandated lead arranger for the big-time project, told reporters it’s a “golden opportunity for us to sign a deal for such a prestigious financing project in the Middle East.”
He said Calyon attached great importance to the fast-developing energy-rich region, Oman in paritcular which is busy liberalizing and diversifying its econmy. “The deal is bound to produce results”, said the Briton.
National Economy Minister Ahmed ibn Abdulnabi Macki, who signed the agreement along with Oil and Gas Minister Dr. Mohammed Al-Rumhy, called it another major step forward in integrating Oman’s economy with the world economy.