IPOH, Nov 30 (Bernama) -- Felcra Berhad plans to set up a RM7.5 millionpalm oil refinery in Oman next year, said its chairman Datuk HamzahZainudin."This will be Felcra's first venture into the palm oil industry in WestAsia," he said after attending a breaking of fast function here yesterday.

Hamzah said the project, a joint-venture with an Omani firm, had beengiven the nod by the Finance Minister.

A memorandum of understanding (MoU) on the project would be signed by bothparties on Dec 12. Part of the construction costs for the refinery wouldbe funded by Oman's central bank.

Hamzah said the refinery would be located near Port Salalah to facilitateshipment of the palm oil to Yemen, United Arab Emirates (UAE) and Qatar.-- BERNAMA