Jul 21 2010
The Public Authority for Electricity and Water (PAEW) of Sultanate of Oman is expected to announce its plans to construct a large scale 100–200 MW solar power plant.
An appointed group consisting of Chadbourne & Parke (Legal Advisers), Macquarie (Financial Advisers) and WorleyParsons Oman Engineering (Technical Advisers) is formulating the development of large scale solar energy in the sultanate under the supervision of PAEW.
The appointed group has commenced the viability study for the plant last October and the draft proposals are presently under process. The group has identified four potential sites among the number of locations studied extensively for the purpose of installation of the planned power plant. The authorities are toiling to getting approvals for the chosen sites.
The optimum production capacity of the plant will be decided by PAEW on the basis of the feasibility study. Though the planned project is insignificant in capacity, compared to other gas based power projects of Oman, but is considered adequately paramount due to the planned investment and technology.
The proposed plant is expected to be based on solar tower, parabolic trough and photovoltaic (PV) that are popular and used all over the world.
The Oman Power and Water Company (OPWP) is expected to issue the request for proposals in the forthcoming weeks and oversee the prequalification and subsequent process of competitive bidding. The company is expected to bestow the preferred bidder with a license to design, develop, invest and operate the plant.
Government of Oman is looking forward to utilizing the opportunity for the development of native talent, in production industry, operating and maintenance capabilities and training the Omani nationals.