Meed | Oman to sign solar power deals

Oman to sign solar power deals

20 March 2023

Oman Power & Water Procurement Company (OPWP) is expected to sign the power-purchase agreements (PPA) for the Manah 1 and 2 solar independent power producer (IPP) projects in the sultanate this week, according to an industry source.

OPWP awarded two separate contracts for the schemes, as MEED reported.

A team comprising France's EDF and South Korea's Korea Western Power Company (Kowepo) won the first 500MW solar photovoltaic (PV) IPP contract. A team of Singapore's Sembcorp Industries (Sembcorp) and China-headquartered Jinko Power Technology was awarded the second 500MW solar PV IPP contract.

The two 500MW solar plants are expected to be operational by 2025 and will be backed by a 20-year PPA with OPWP.

The contract awarded to the Sembcorp and Jinko Power Technology team marks the first renewable project ever to be won by the Singaporean firm in the Middle East region. It will own an 80 per cent stake in a joint venture comprising its subsidiary Sembcorp Utilities and Jinko Power, which will implement the project.

Manah 1 and 2 were previously named solar IPP 2022 and 2023.

Three developer consortiums submitted technical and financial proposals for the contracts in late September 2022.

To be located 150 kilometres southwest of Muscat, the Manah 1 and 2 solar projects comprise the second utility-scale renewable energy projects to be tendered by OPWP, after Ibri 2, which has been operational since 2021.

US/India-based Synergy Consulting is the client’s financial adviser for the Manah 1 and 2 solar PV schemes.

Wind projects

OPWP last year received bids for the technical and economic consultancy roles for developing wind IPPs in the country.

The project consists of two stages. The initial stage entails undertaking feasibility studies, while the second stage covers the provision of technical consultancy services.

OPWP last year issued the request for proposals for the consultancy packages for the development of the sultanate’s next solar PV IPP, Ibri 3, which will have a capacity of 500MW.