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New power plants account for 27 per cent of Oman?s supply

Sohar-2 and Barka-3 power plants will generate 1,488 MW of power. (Image source: Thure Johnson/Flickr)

Two new Omani power plants have a combined capacity of 1,488 MW, accounting for 27 per cent of Oman?s total power capacity of 5,589 MW

Al Batinah Power Company?s Sohar-2 plant and Al Suwadi Power Company?s Barka-3 plant, which were recently inaugurated, cost US$1.7bn, according to a press release. GDF SUEZ Energy International was awarded the two projects in 2010.

The plant is located about 200km northwest of Muscat within the Sohar Industrial Port area.

Mohammed al Mahrooqi, chairman of Public Authority for Electricity and Water (PAEW), Muscat, said, ?The launch of these projects is in line with Oman's strategy of increasing local and foreign investments in electricity generation and establishing a firm economic foundation that relies on private sector participation.?

Sohar-2 and Barka-3 are coastal, gas-fired combined cycle gas turbine (CCGT) plants.

Ahmed bin Saleh Al Jahdhami, CEO of Oman Power and Water Procurement Company (OPWP), added that Sohar-2 has achieved 99.9 per cent reliability without any lost time accidents or environmental incidents.

Willem Van Twembeke, chief executive officer and president of GDF Suez, said, ?Barka-3 has achieved an impressive reliability 99.73 per cent without environmental incidents.?