Oman 1GW Mana Solar Park extended to 2024 to start commercial operation

    According to the Muscat Daily, the Manah Solar I and II parks in Amanda Chiriyah Province, with a total capacity of 1GW Stand Alone System Solar , will begin commercial operations in the last quarter of 2024.

    The follow-up department for the implementation of Oman Vision 2040, a government agency, said last week that the two projects are expected to attract about 300 million OMR (780.2 million US dollars / 674.9 million euros) of investment. The trial operation of each 500 MW power plant is planned to be carried out in the fourth quarter of 2022 and the first quarter of 2023, but the time has been extended due to the global economic turmoil caused by the new crown epidemic.

    The Oman Power and Water Procurement Company (OPWP) will act as the power purchaser for the Independent Power Project (IPP) and will select two international developers to build, own and operate the power plant. Last year, the company issued a Request for Proposal (RfP), which was open for participation by nine developers and consortia, previously selected through prequalification (RfQ).

    Qualified bidders include Masdar, EDF Renewable Energy Company, Italy's Eni Group and Japan's Marubeni Group. The deadline for both parties to submit commercial bids is May 25. (OMR 1.0=2.601 USD/2.250 Euro)

    It is reported that Oman’s goal is that by 2025 renewable energy will account for 10% to 16% of the electricity generated by the main interconnected systems of the Sultanate, with a total electricity generation of approximately 2,800 megawatts.