Oman will launch a tender process later this month for its single largest independent power project (IPP), which could have a capacity of 3,200 MW.
Ahmed Al Jahdhami, the CEO of Oman Power and Water Procurement Company (OPWP), the process of pre-qualifying bidders for the project, which was launched in 2014, is expected to conclude soon. Ahmed Al Jahdhami stated in an exclusive interview with Muscat Daily:
“Two sites, one in Ibri and another in Sohar, within the Main Interconnected System (MIS) region have been finalised for this major project. The project will be spread over two sites but only one tender will be floated for both."“The aggregate power generation capacity of these two combined facilities is currently under review and could go up to 3,200MW.”The project is scheduled to be operational by 2019.
Ahmed Al Jahdhami has also announced that the OPWP expects to sign an agreement in March this year for the Salalah 2 Independent Power Project (IPP). The project's capacity will be between 300 MW and 400 MW. Three pre-qualified applicants submitted the final bid for the project:
The winning bidder would take over the existing asset and build the new power plant at the same site. The scope of the Salalah 2 IPP includes design, construction, ownership, financing, operation and maintenance of a high efficiency facility which will extend the current power capacity of 273 MW to around 600 MW.
The project is expected to be completed by 2018.