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Oman expands grid connectivity

10 December 2023

Oman’s power and water sector has awarded an annual average of approximately $1.5bn-worth of contracts over the past 11 years – a relatively low value compared to the total awarded every year by some of its GCC neighbours.

However, 2023 can still be considered a good year for the sultanate, as contracts worth an estimated $1.2bn have been awarded.

This is an improvement on the performance of the previous two years, which saw very limited project activity within the sector, with contract awards valued at just $104m in 2021 and $244m in 2022.

Having adopted a policy to not procure further gas-fired thermal power plants, Oman awarded the contracts to develop its second and third utility-scale solar photovoltaic (PV) plants in early 2023.

The Manah 1 and 2 solar PV independent power projects (IPPs) each have a capacity of 500MW. Wadi Noor Solar Company, comprising France’s EDF Renewables and South Korea’s Korea Western Power Company (Kowepo), will deliver and maintain the Manah 1 solar IPP project for 20 years.

Another team, comprising Singapore’s Sembcorp Industries and China-headquartered Jinko Power Technology, will develop the Manah 2 IPP scheme. The country’s first utility-scale solar project, Ibri 2, became operational in 2021. 

Oman’s Ministry of Regional Municipalities & Water Resources also awarded a $108m contract for the construction of a flood protection dam in Wadi Ajay Gorge in Muscat in early 2023. The rest of the awarded contracts comprise water and power transmission pipeline projects across the sultanate.

Demand growth

Nama Power & Water Procurement Company (PWP), formerly Oman Power & Water Procurement Company (OPWP),  expects peak electricity demand for the main interconnected system (MIS), the sultanate’s main electricity grid, to grow by an average of 3.54 per cent annually from 2022 to 2029, reaching 8,350MW at the end of the forecast period.

Most of this growth is expected to occur in the near term, as the economy recovers from the effects of the Covid-19 pandemic, according to PWP’s most recent Seven-Year Statement, which covers the years 2023-29. It is also higher compared to the 2.5 per cent average annual peak demand growth rate seen between 2015 and 2022.

PWP’s low-case forecast scenario shows an average annual peak demand growth of 1.3 per cent, with the base growing from 6,628MW to just over 7,200MW. A high-case scenario, on the other hand, indicates an annual demand growth of 5.2 per cent, which can drive the demand to reach 9,430MW.

Annual peak demand growth in the smaller Dhofar grid is expected to average 5 per cent between 2022 and 2029.

The first phase of Oman’s North-South Interconnection project, known as Rabt, became operational in November. The 400-kilovolt (kV), 670-kilometre (km) project required an investment of about $966m.

The first phase of Oman’s North-South Interconnection project, known as Rabt, became operational in November

The project enables the MIS, serving the northern half of the Oman grid, to connect with Nihada in Al-Dhahirah Governorate and Duqm Special Economic Zone (SEZ) in Al-Wusta Governorate.

Al-Wusta offers an optimal location for solar and wind projects, which the country aims to develop as part of its green energy ambitions.

Also part of Rabt's first phase, the isolated networks of Petroleum Development Oman and the Rural Areas Electricity Company (Tanweer) in Duqm SEZ, have been interconnected.

A second phase is being planned for Rabt. To be launched later this year, it will comprise a 500km, 400kV transmission line from Duqm to Dhofar.

Water requirements

Peak water demand in the MIS is expected to increase by an average of 2 per cent annually between 2022 and 2029, while peak water demand in Dhofar is expected to grow by an average of 7 per cent a year.

To meet the expected demand rise in the MIS, several independent water projects are being developed or planned. These include the Barka 5 scheme, which has a capacity of 100,000 cubic metres a day (cm/d) and is expected to come online in 2024. Ghubrah 3, which has three times as much capacity, is expected to be operational two years later.

A third project, a replacement capacity for the Barka zone of about 102,000 cm/d, is also expected to be added in 2024.

Future projects

In addition to the second phase of Rabt, Oman is in the early procurement phase of several solar and wind projects, in line with meeting demand growth and replacing expiring contracted capacity.

The power and water purchase agreement for the gas-fired Barka 2 independent water and power facility, for instance, expires in 2024, while the contract for the Barka 3 IPP expires in 2028.

KPMG Lower Gulf, a subsidiary of the Netherlands-based consultancy company, has been selected to provide financial advisory services to Nama PWP for the Ibri 3 solar IPP, which will have a capacity of 500MW. Ibri 3, along with the planned 100MW Jalaan Bani Bul Ali wind power project, will cater to the MIS.

Another key scheme being planned to connect to the MIS is Oman’s first waste-to-energy plant in Barkah. When complete, the facility is expected to treat 4,500 tonnes of municipal waste a day, produce 130MW-150MW of energy, and reduce the carbon footprint of Oman's landfills by 1.3 million tonnes annually.

For the Duqm grid, a 100MW wind IPP is being planned, in addition to a potential concentrated solar power plant. These plants are expected to become operational in 2026 and 2028, respectively. A 100MW wind project is also being planned for Dhofar, although there has been no fixed target for when it is expected to become operational.

In May, it was also announced that Oman Electricity Transmission Company is planning a second link to the GCC grid. The planned 400kV power transmission link is scheduled to start operations in the first quarter of 2026.

Hydrogen hubs

There are major plans to develop green hydrogen hubs in Duqm and Dhofar, in line with Oman's ambition to produce up to 1.25 million tonnes a year of green hydrogen by 2030.

The proposed projects will integrate renewable energy plants that will supply power to the electrolyser plants, which split water into hydrogen and oxygen, as well as the other units of the facilities.    

The government has so far awarded land concessions to international consortiums looking to develop integrated green hydrogen and ammonia facilities in the country.

The programme will have a potentially significant impact in terms of Oman’s future gross renewable energy capacity growth, with some of the earliest announced projects requiring several gigawatts of wind and solar power.

However, since most of the planned projects include captive renewable energy power plants, they will not necessarily affect the Omani utility companies' future capacity procurement plans. 

On the other hand, water demand may be affected as the electrolysis plants require pure water to be split into hydrogen and oxygen.

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Jennifer Aguinaldo

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