Oman’s leading oil and gas exploration & production company, Petroleum Development Oman (PDO), and its parent holding company Energy Development Oman (EDO) are planning to implement a new renewables-based Independent Power Project (IPP) in the northern part of its Block 6 concession in the Sultanate.
The proposed IPP is centered on a solar-based generation component with a capacity of 100MW. Further, it will include a large-scale battery storage component, which will be the first of its kind in Oman, to assure a steady and sustained power supply while addressing the intermittency difficulties often associated with solar or wind-based generating.
The announcement was made during a webinar on the theme of ‘Connecting the Netherlands to Oman’s Business Opportunities,’ which was co-hosted by PDO and EDO. The online event, organized by Business Gateways International, was supported by Oman’s Ministry of Commerce, Industry and Investment Promotion, and the Government of the Netherlands.
According to senior PDO executives Mr. Zahran al Abri, ICV Manager, and Mr. Aiman al Shukaili, Head of Renewable Energy, the proposed solar-based IPP will help improve clean-energy based electricity supply to Oil & Gas facilities in North Oman. Integrated with the solar generation component is battery storage offering around 30MW of power capacity. Furthermore, the overall scheme will contribute to savings of between 200,000-300,000 tons of CO2 emissions per annum.
Significantly, the procurement of the North Oman Solar IPP is expected to be based on the success of a comparable project, the Amin Solar Photovoltaic Power Plant, which was brought into operation near Nimr in the south of PDO’s concession last year.
The proposed North Oman Solar IPP is now in the engineering design phase with a competitive tender for its implementation likely to be floated within the next several quarters, according to the PDO officials.
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