Barka-II independent power project commences operations

By V L Srinivasan

Muscat, Dec 21: Marking another milestone in the privatisation of the sultanate's power sector, the gas-based 678MW Barka-II Independent Water and Power Project (IWPP) was fully commissioned for commercial operations on November 15 this year.

With the commissioning of the Barka-II IWPP, the sultanate has achieved a power surplus, generating 3,725MW, while peak demand during summer was around 3,400MW. “The power plant has been generating 678MW in May this year, but the water treatment plant was delayed and the project was fully commissioned only last month,” an official at the Oman Power and Water Procurement Company Ltd told Muscat Daily.

Despite the surplus, Oman has no plans to sell the additional power, as demand for 2010 is estimated at 3,800MW. Since total generation is around 3,725 MW, there may be a minor shortfall in power, the official said.

Barka-II is the fifth independent power project in the sultanate. The other four projects are Manah, Al Kamil, Barka-I and Sohar. The Rusayl power project, which used to be owned by the government was sold to developers of the Barka-II power project more than two years ago.

Costing around US$800mn, the Barka II IWPP was developed by a consortium of private firms, including the Suez Tractebel, Mubadala, Development and National Trading Company. The Barka-II plant location is adjacent to the existing 450MW Barka I plant, which itself is located 50km away from Muscat, on the Batinah coast.

Besides generating 678MW, the plant has a Guaranteed Contracted Water Capacity (GCWC) of 120,000 cubic metres of water per day. The plant is connected to the interconnected main transmission system at 220kV, which is owned and operated by Oman Electricity Transmission Company.

The feed stock - natural gas - is supplied by the Oman Gas Company (OGC). Though the plant was to be commissioned on April 1 this year, it was delayed for various reasons.

The project comprises the development, design, financing, engineering, construction and commissioning, testing, ownership, operation, and maintenance of a greenfield combined cycle gas fired power generation and seawater desalination facility.