Oman to develop four solar projects worth $1.6bn in five years
Projects will help Oman move away from gas-based electricity generation
Oman intends to build four solar projects over the next five years. The utility-scale projects will cost an estimated $1.6bn and will be able to generate 1,600MW of renewable energy, said a report from the Oman Observer.
The first of the projects, known as Ibri IPP, will have a power generation capacity of 500MW and is scheduled to be developed by 2022. Following this solar plant will be ‘Solar 2022’ and ‘Solar 2023’, each offering 500MW of generation capacity, and scheduled to go online by 2022 and 2023 respectively.
While the three projects are planned for development in the wilayats of Ibri (Dhahirah Governorate) and Manah and Adam (Al Dakhiliyah Governorate), the Petroleum Development Oman (PDO) is also procuring a 100MW solar power plant at Amin in the south of its concession. This project is scheduled for launch by 2020.
The main stakeholders for the projects are said to be the Public Authority for Electricity and Water (PAEW), Authority for Electricity Regulation, Oman Electricity Transmission Company, Nama Holding, Ministry of Housing, Ministry of Environment and Climate Affairs and Royal Oman Police. The Lead Implementers were said to be Oman Power and Water Procurement Company (OPWP) and Petroleum Development Oman.
According to a report from the Implementation Support & Follow-up Unit (ISFU), the four utility-scale solar photovoltaic (PV) based schemes are key to acceleration Oman’s move away from gas-based electricity generation. The ISFU is said to be a task force operating under the Diwan of Royal Court, with the mandate to drive the Sultanate’s economic diversification strategy.
