The work includes the installation of two pipes, a 700 metre in-take pipe and 500m outlet pipe. The Dutch firm Interbeton is carrying out the work.

Work has also started on the 160,000-cubic metre reservoir at the plant, with the upper slab cast at the end of March. The reservoir will treat water that has undergone reverse osmosis.

The 20 million-gallon-a-day plant is being developed under a design-build-own-and-operate contract by Sharqiyah Desalination Company, a joint venture of France’s Veolia Environment and the local Bahwan Engineering Company.

The client for the project, which is the first independent water project in the sultanate, is the Housing, Electricity & Water Ministry (MEED 17:01:07). It is expected to meet the needs of 250,000 people when operational.