Oman plans to build two power plants

• 7 years ago (2016-08-18)
• David Flin

Middle East 310

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Oman has announced that it plans to develop two major power plants by 2022 within the Main Interconnected System (MIS), which accounts for 90 per cent of the nation’s total electricity supply. It is planning to have an 800 MW IPP operational by 2021, and a 2700 MW power plant by 2022.

Oman is expected to issue a request for qualifications (RfQ) for the 800 MW IPP in the third quarter of 2016. The RfQ will be administered by the Oman Power and Water Procurement Company (OPWP), the sole procurer of new capacity.

OPWP said in a report: “Prospective sites and infrastructure requirements are being evaluated in collaboration with stakeholders, such as Oman Gas Company (OGC) and Oman Electricity Transmission Company (OETC). OPWP expects to select the site and to initiate the procurement process with an RfQ in Q3, 2016, subject to regulatory approval.” A Request for Proposals (RfP) will be issued to prequalified developers in Q1, 2017, with an award in Q3, 2017.

OPWP will then commence work on the procurement of the proposed 2700 MW plant. OPWP said that an RfQ will be issued in Q3 2017 for the project, with an RfP scheduled to follow in Q1 2018, with an award expected by Q1 2019.

The 2700 MW power project will be tendered out under a new procurement methodology, which will come into play for the first time in 2017. According to OPWP, this new procedure will allow existing, out of contract plants to compete for power generation licences alongside bidders for new power plants.