Oman Power & Water Procurement Company (OPWP) announced that the Barka 2 independent water and power project began operatimg commercially on 15 November.

The plant is producing 678MW of power and 26 million gallons a day of water.

The project began producing 363MW of early power on 29 July 2008.

OPWP awarded the scheme to a consortium of Belgium’s Suez Energy International, the UAE’s Mubadala Development Company and the local National Trading Company in October 2006.

As part of the deal, the Suez-led team also acquired the Al-Rusail Power Company, which owns the 665MW Al-Rusail power plant, from the Omani government.  

OPWP is now moving ahead with plans to develop the twin Barka 3 and Sohar 2 independent power projects. Developers submitted their bids for the 650-750MW schemes on 8 December.