August 28, 2012
Muscat: ACWA Power Barka, one of the biggest power generation companies in Oman and a subsidiary of Saudi Arabia's ACWA Power International, is embarking on a RO20.9 million-expansion to enhance water desalination capacity by 10 million gallons per day.
The expansion will take the company's total water desalination capacity to 30 million gallons per day in its Barka facility, the company's chief executive officer Nadeen Rizwi, told Times of Oman.
ACWA Power Barka is seeking to raise a loan of up to RO5.78 million for meeting the project cost. The company's shareholders have approved the expansion project and funding at a meeting on August 26.
The expansion project, which will be executed on a fast-track basis, will be completed in October, 2013, noted Rizwi.He also said that the capital expenditure of the project will be met by way of term loan from local and regional institutions. The company has already awarded the contract to Spain-based Abeima, a group company of Abelgao. Abeima is a world-leading company in design, engineering, and construction of hydraulic and environmental infrastructures, desalination and wastewater or waste treatment plants, and other environmental improvement works.
Rizwi said the expansion project was planned on the request of Oman Power and Water Procurement (OPWP) Company for meeting an anticipated shortfall in water in the Sultanate. "This is first of its kind and shows the confidence of OPWP in our ability to expand our capacity. As a foreign company, we are also here to serve the country. ACWA Power International owns 58 per cent of ACWA Power Barka after buying a shareholding few years ago.
© Times of Oman 2012
