07 February 2017
Green-field venture: 16,000 m3/day capacity plant is Musandam's first Independent Water project

Conrad Prabhu
Reputable water utilities from Spain, France, Australia, UAE and Qatar are in contention for a license from the Omani government for the establishment of the first Independent Water Project (IWP) in Musandam Governorate in the north of Oman.

The Oman Power and Water Procurement Company SAOC (OPWP), the sole procurer of all new power generation and related water desalination capacity in the Sultanate, is overseeing the competitive process for the procurement of a roughly 16,000 cubic metres per day ((3.5 million imperial gallons per day MIGD) capacity seawater desalination plant to be set up at Khasab.

In all, 13 consortiums and individual bidders have submitted a Statement of Qualifications (SoQ) affirming their interest in competing for this green-field water scheme.

The list includes international heavyweights such as Abengoa Water, Tedagua, Veolia Middle East, ACWA Emirates and GS Inima. Also in the fray are consortiums headed by well-established players such as Al Fanar Energy (Qatar), Metito, Romman Premium Enterprise, House of Trading and Services, SETE Energy and Seven Seas. Rounding off the list are Osmoflo (Australia) and Utico (UAE).

“The evaluation of SoQs is currently under way and the applicants will be informed of the status of their qualification after the necessary approvals are obtained,” OPWP said in a statement issued here yesterday.

Targeted for completion in 2019, the new Khasab IWP will help ease the enclave’s dependence on a small network of diesel-powered desalination plants for its potable water requirements. The Musandam Zone is currently served by small desalination plants: one in Kamzar (450 m3/d) that is owned and operated by the Rural Areas Electricity Company (RAECO), three plants of the Public Authority for Electricity & Water (PAEW) plants with combined capacity of about 3,500 m3/d, and wells. The new project will also go some way in alleviating pressure on groundwater resources currently being tapped to meet demand in the wider area.

It is expected that electricity for the IWP will be provided by a new Independent Power Project currently under completion at Tibat. The 122MW facility — Musandam’s first gas-based power plant — is being developed by Musandam Power Company (MPC), a joint venture between Oman Oil Company (70 per cent) and LG International (30 per cent).

© Oman Daily Observer 2017