Oman Power and Water Procurement Company (OPWP) has launched a study to find a location for an independent power plant in Duqm, which will be expected to generate up to 300MW
OPWP official Hilal Abdullah Al Nasseri said that the government was planning to float tenders for building independent power projects (IPPs) with a combined generation capacity of 2,000-2,500MW by next year.
The tendering process and awarding have been scheduled in such a way to commission these projects by 2017-18 to meet the growing demand for power.
Al Nasseri added that the average power demand growth from 2012 to 2019 is expected around 9.5 per cent in the main interconnected system. In extreme cases, the demand will touch 9133MW by 2019.
Referring to the proposed IPPs, he said tenders have been floated for the second IPP in Salalah, which will have a minimum generation capacity of 300MW. This project, planned in Raysut, will be completed by 2017. The tender has been clubbed with the existing Dhofar Power Company?s existing project. Also, another IPP may be required in Salalah by 2019.
Further, the Sur IPP will add 2,000MW capacity by 2014, but early power generation of 433MW will be expected this year itself.
OPWP official also revealed that a strategic study was going on to see the options for managing expiring independent power projects and independent power and water projects.
