Sultanate's first solar power project gains momentum

By V L Srinivasan

Muscat, Jan 23: The tendering process for the first ever solar power project in the sultanate is likely to begin in July this year and expected to be completed within twelve months from that date.

At present, the Public Authority for Electricity and Water (PAEW) is conducting a detailed feasibility study for setting up the power plant with a capacity between 100-200MW through private sector participation on a Build Own & Operate (BOO) basis.

The study will consider all aspects including identifying the best location and a thorough review of existing technologies and support mechanisms utilised internationally. The second phase, the competition process, will begin later this year.

PAEW, together with other competent authorities, will be studying the potential for other alternatives in addition to gas and renewable sources.

Disclosing this while making a presentation on ‘Renewable Energy Initiatives in Oman’ at a one-day Indian Solar Networking seminar here, PAEW director (Privatisation and Restructuring) Ahmed Saleh al Jahdhami said that the renewable energy initiatives would form part of the long term fuel diversity strategy for power generation which PAEW is working on.

The seminar was attended by Indian Minister for New and Renewable Sources, Dr Farooq Abdullah and senior officials from the Indian Ministry of Non Conventional Energy Resources and members of the Oman India Business Council.

"In addition to the work on the large scale solar projects, small scale, off-grid pilot projects are being considered. The Rural Area Electricity Company has already received 13 proposals from various private companies for establishing renewable energy pilot projects. The proposals are being evaluated by the Authority for Electricity Regulation and a number of approved projects will be announced in the first quarter of 2010," Jahdhami said.

Speaking to reporters later, Dr Farooq Abdullah said that Oman and India will launch solar power projects on an experimental basis which will be taken up on a large scale once they are successful. "The Government of Oman has prepared a blue paper which was given to us. We will examine it and prepare a final draft."

He said that India had a number of technologies which can be used for producing renewable energy. "We want private enterprise to play a bigger role and the government will act as a facilitator.

There is enormous scope for cooperation between Oman and India to achieve technological advancement in this area," he said.