MUSCAT -- The potable water requirements of a massive industrial hub and urban township envisioned at Duqm in Wusta Governorate will be met by a new Independent Water Project (IWP), according to the Oman Power and Water Procurement Company (OPWP)
The project could also be potentially co-located with a new power generation plant, the scope of which is the subject of an ongoing study, the state-owned power procurer said in its newly published forecast of the Sultanate's electricity and water demand growth over the next seven years (2013 - 2019).
"A new water desalination plant with capacity of about 30,000 m3/d (6 million imperial gallons per day -- MIGD) at Duqm, for commercial operation in 2018, and a new power generation plant also at Duqm for service in about the same time frame. The generation capacity of the power plant, specific timing, and prospect for co-location with the water desalination plant are expected to be specified after the completion of OPWP's ongoing Duqm Study, for completion in 2013. Procurement activities may begin in 2014," the power procurer stated in its forecasts.
Duqm is currently served by a 6,000 m3/day (1 MIGD) desalination plant owned by the Rural Areas Electricity Company (RAECO) in Duqm town, aside from a number of local groundwater sources. However, water demand is projected to soar on the back of investments in a huge Special Economic Zone anchored by a multipurpose port and ship repair yard.
But pending the implementation of a new Independent Water Project (IWP) at Duqm, the Public Authority for Electricity and Water (PAEW) has outlined a number of steps to meet water demand growth through 2018, when the new IWP is slated to come into operation. These measures are also designed to alleviate an overdependence on groundwater sources.
Among the measures contemplated by PAEW is a plan to expand the capacity of RAECO's existing desalination plant by a further 4,000 m3/day (1 MIGD). The expansion is expected to be initiated during 2013.
This capacity will be further ramped up with the addition of a temporary plant with an output of 5,000 m3/day (1 MIGD) during 2014.
Further potable water demand growth will be addressed through the proposed relocation of a desalination unit from Al Ghubrah in Muscat Governorate, to Duqm. This temporary measure will add 10,000 m3/day (2 MIGD) of capacity to Duqm's water desalination facilities by 2015.
On the power generation front, OPWP foresees the need for a substantial increase in capacity in Duqm over the next seven years.
Electricity is currently supplied by a 67 MW diesel-fuel power plant operated by RAECO. Electricity demand is projected to burgeon to around 100-150 MW by 2019, says OPWP, citing projections made by RAECO.
© Oman Daily Observer 2013
