Oman Power Plans To Pitch For 500MW PV Park

Oman Power and Water Procurement Company (OPWP), which launched a tender in January this year to select an independent power producer (IPP) to develop a 500MW photovoltaic (PV) park, has released the list of preferred bidders to the public.

The park will be built in the city of Ibri in the Ad Dhahirah province in north-west Oman.

Oman Power and Water Procurement (OPWP) said in a statement, "In response to its eligibility requirements, Nama Power and Water Procurement received 12 eligibility applications from local and international developers. Nine of these applicants have been granted conditional or unconditional eligibility." Nama Power and Water Procurement Company was formerly known as Oman Power and Water Procurement Company (OPWP).

Shortlisted bidders include UAE renewable energy developer Masdar, Saudi Arabian energy giant ACWA Power, a consortium comprising Saudi-owned Riyadh National Trading Company and South Korean energy developer Korea Midland Power, Chinese clean energy developer Jinko Power, Singaporean energy utility Sembcorp Utilities, French oil and energy developer TotalEnergies, a consortium of EDF and South Korean utility Kowepo, French energy group Engie and Japan's Sumitomo Corp.

Oman Power and Water Procurement (OPWP) said, "Nama Power and Water Procurement is currently finalising the request for proposal (RFP), which will be released to the above pre-qualified applicants soon after obtaining the relevant approvals."

All these projects are part of the Omani government's plan to add around 4GW of installed renewable energy capacity by 2030. In addition to the development of utility-scale projects, the target will be supported by the country's new regulations for rooftop photovoltaic systems announced in 2018.