Oman is stepping up its drive to induce the private sector to help develop its power infrastructure by seeking bids for a 200 MW project to be built in the south of the country. The project involves replacement of existing diesel generators.
The open cycle gas turbine plant is to be constructed at Salalah on a build-own-operate basis. This will be Oman’s second independent power project. In 1997, a 90 MW private sector project at Manah near Nizwa began supplying power.
Oman is also planning two other power projects, a 100 MW gas turbine plant at Rusail and a 60 MW extension to the existing Wadi-al-Jizzi plant. These could be developed as private sector projects, although this is only one of three possible options being considered.
Domestic demand in Oman is increasing at four per cent per annum and industrial demand at eight per cent, so the current installed capacity of 1600 MW is coming under strain.