Authorities in charge of the project to develop an 'integrated' city of 100,000 residents in Duqm will look to incorporate renewable energy into its power generation plans.
Speaking at the Forum for Investment in Free Zones and Development Areas being held at Al Bustan Palace Hotel, H E Yahya al Jabri, president of Duqm Special Economic Zones, said the authorities are carrying out studies into the possibility of using alternative energy sources to power the city.
Although giving no details on the targets for renewable energy, H E Jabri added that the Duqm development aims to create 20,000 direct and indirect jobs by 2020, attract international and local investment totalling US$6bn and grow the contribution of oil to the Duqm economy from zero to five per cent over the next ten years as the region grows into a petrochemicals hub.
He said, "We will be conducting research and development on creating a development based on clean energy.
"The special economic zone was designed to be an integrated city based on strong foundations with renewable energy to provide as much power as possible."
Dr Maurice Girgis, adviser to the Duqm project, told Muscat Daily that project authorities are in the process of setting renewable energy targets for the development, but government co-operation will be needed to factor renewable energy costs into the current subsidised electricity tariffs.
He said, "We are considering the possibility of using green power and solar power. The only problem with this is that we will have to work with the government on a formula where we can harness the solar energy potential.
"We are in the process of trying to come up with targets for renewable energy, but we do not have anything confirmed yet."
Dr Girgis added that renewable energy is one part of the development's environmental strategy, with attention paid to tidal and wind patterns as the project managers aim to create a clean home for the city's anticipated 100,000 residents.
© Muscat Daily 2011
