The Sultanate of Oman plans to invest RO3 billion over the next few years to augment power generation and supply, reported TIMES OF OMAN, quoting Mohammed bin Abdullah Al Mahrouqi, chairman of Public Authority for Electricity and Water.
The formalities related to floating the tender of Mirbat electricity production and water desalination facility are still going on. The plant’s generation capacity is expected to exceed 420MW and 15 million gallons. The first phase of the plant is expected to be online by 2011.
Recently, in order to implement the second phase of Sohar plant and third phase of Barka plant, a tender has been floated. The plants, with a power generation capacity of 650MW each, are expected to be online by 2013.
Abdullah Al Mahrouqi stated that to construct a new plant at Ghubra are under studies, to renovate the current plant by adding 500MW and producing 30 million gallons of water a day. The plant is expected to be operational by 2013. The authority also plans to construct a new coal-fired power plant at Duqum, with a power generation capacity of 1,000MW and is scheduled to be operational by 2015, which is under studies.
Expected to be ready by mid of 2010, the authority is conducting a feasibility study to construct a central plant in Solar to produce about 100 to 200MW of power. Another study is conducted to convert the existing turbine plants from plants that use the open cycle to those using complex cycle, which would result in the augmented power generation and enhance the capacity of fuel gas.
Abdullah Al Mahrouqi informed that there are plans to equip associated grids which are expected to cost around RO1 billion. During summer of 2009, the peak electricity loads at main link system has reached 3,600MW, which was due to an increase in number of consumers and high living standards of citizens. In addition to 499MW from other resources beyond consumption, the contracted power production capacity was 3,730MW.
Abdullah Al Mahrouqi continued that the authority is covering around 90% of populated areas with electricity, and is making all efforts to cover the rest of the areas that did not have power supply.
Al Mahrouqi stated regarding the installation of digital meter that a feasibility study has been conducted now as to identify the feasibility of converting to the digital meter and the implementation time frame, including using the remote-reading system. Based on the outcome of this study which is expected to be completed during Q1 of 2010, steps would be taken to finish installation of these digital meters. The initial cost of implementation would be RO50m to RO70m. The second phase, linking the Sultanate and the UAE, had been completed in 2008. The third phase, linking Phases I and II, would be completed in 2011. The power link would allow the Sultanate to import 400MW.