OQ, the Oman-based integrated energy company, has achieved ISO 17025 certification across seven parameters covering its polymer lab.

Focusing on testing and calibration laboratories, ISO 17025 enables organisations to demonstrate and certify that they can competently operate testing systems and generate valid results, thereby promoting confidence in their products both nationally and around the world.

Furthermore, the certification enables cooperation between laboratories and other entities by generating alignment and more efficient acceptance of results across the globe.

For OQ, this certification represents an important milestone. As the company continues to grow, being certified to these globally recognised standards will help to unlock commercial opportunities in the future. Specifically, OQ achieved accreditation across seven parameters, covering key processes measuring properties relating to PP and PE, such as polymer oxidisation, film quality, and identification of contaminants. The seven parameters are:

OQ reaches another important milestone

• ASTM D1238: Melt flow rate; 

• ASTM D1895: Density measurement

• ASTM D5492: PP crystallinity determination

• ASTM D6247: XRF analysis for additive concentration

• ASTM D6290: Yellowness index evaluation

• Novolen N07: Evaluation of PP film purity

• Univation PEG 504: Evaluation of PE resin purity

Gilles Rochas, Managing Director – OQ Polymer Marketing, commented: “This reassures customers of the reliability of OQ’s quality control. ISO 17025 was developed by laboratory experts from all over the world together with key industry bodies such as the International Laboratory Accreditation Cooperation. By adhering to these globally recognised standards, our customers can be confident in our existing product quality as well as the research that underpins our product development.”

Khalid Al Asmi, Vice President – OQ Downstream Technical Services, commented: “We take ISO certifications incredibly seriously, and spent three years putting in tremendous effort and resources to secure ISO 17025 for our Polymer Lab. Our two refinery labs, MAF and Sohar, also have this accreditation.

“On top of this, OQ has key ISO certifications in quality management, environmental management and occupational health and safety, demonstrating our commitment to meeting international standards in everything we do.”

This latest certification breakthrough marks another chapter in OQ’s ongoing growth story. Since 2020, the company has grown its client base tenfold from 300 to 3,000, while the volume of products shipped had jumped from 900 containers per month to 4,000 – all during a well-documented shipping crisis.

Today, OQ operates out of 17 countries and services more than 80 countries with its range of polymer products, which include PP and PE variations.

Looking ahead to the future, the company is seeking to deepen its ISO 17025 certification across several new parameters to support further the company’s growth aspirations.

OQ emerged in late 2019 upon the successful integration of nine legacy companies, united to form a stronger, more efficient and consolidated entity. It operates in 17 countries and covers the entire value chain in the energy sector from exploration and production, to marketing and distribution of end-user products.