The Ibri and Sohar-3 projects, offering a combined electricity generation capacity of 3,220 megawatts, represent the single largest jointly procured power scheme to be undertaken in the Sultanate.
MUSCAT: Newly constituted Switzerland-based gas turbine manufacturer Ansaldo Energia Switzerland has won contracts to supply the main power generation equipment for a pair of Independent Power Projects (IPPs) to be set up in the Ibri and Sohar areas of the Sultanate.
The Ibri and Sohar-3 projects, offering a combined electricity generation capacity of 3,220 megawatts, represent the single largest jointly procured power scheme to be undertaken in the Sultanate.
A consortium led by Mitsui & Co Ltd, and including ACWA -- International Company for Water and Power Projects and DIDIC -- Dhofar International Development and Investment Holding Company, has secured the mandate to develop the two IPPs.
Envisioned at Ibri is a 1,510 MW combined cycle power plant, while Sohar-3 will comprise a similar facility of 1,710 MW capacity.
Formal agreements between the project company and Oman Power and Water Procurement Company (OPWP), the offtaker of the plants' electricity output, are due to be inked shortly. Both schemes are slated for commissioning in early 2019.
Chinese engineering giant SEPCOIII Electric Power Construction Cooperation of China (SEPCOIII) has been named by the project company as its contractors for the engineering, procurement and construction (EPC) of the two plants on a turnkey basis.
Ansaldo Energia will supply the main power train equipment components, including for each power plant, four of Ansaldo Energia's newly acquired high-efficiency advanced GT26 class gas turbines, four heat recovery steam generators (HRSGs), two steam turbines and six turbo generators to SEPCOIII.
Ansaldo Energia will also provide field services to SEPCOIII -- under separate contracts -- during the construction phase and long term maintenance services to the operator after commissioning.
With these plum contracts under its belt, Ansaldo Energia is set to make its maiden foray in the Sultanate's rapidly expanding power sector.
Its recently acquisition of Alstom-owned GT26 gas turbine technology gives the Swiss firm considerable leverage in serving the Omani and regional power generation industry.
Juerg Schmidli, Ansaldo Energia Switzerland President, commented: "With its operating flexibility and high efficiency, the GT26 gas turbine will play a critical role in generating maximum project returns for our customer.
This is the perfect start for our newly formed company Ansaldo Energia Switzerland."
© Oman Daily Observer 2016
