Oman’s Centralised Utilities Company (CUC) has invited contractors to submit prequalification entries for the engineering, procurement and construction (EPC) contract for a combined power and water desalination plant at the Duqm Special Economic Zone (SEZ) on the eastern coast of the sultanate.

Contractors have until 14 June to submit prequalification entries for the project.

The planned power plant will have a power capacity of 300-400MW and a reverse osmosis component of 6.5-8.5 million imperial gallons a day (MIGD). The power and desalination facility will provide electricity and water for the Oman Oil Company (OOC) and its affiliated companies.

The client is targeting full commercial operation of the plant by the fourth quarter of 2018.

MEED recently reported that CUC had invited firms to submit bids for the engineering and project management contract for the proposed power and water facility.

While the primary fuel has not yet been specified, companies will be requested to submit proposals for a plant that can run on an alternative backup fuel.

In its latest seven-year report, Oman Power and Water Procurement Company (OPWP) stated that it had been considering developing an independent power project (IPP) in Duqm, but had dropped plans for the near future due to the Gas Ministry having notified the utility that there was not sufficient gas supply for the project.

OPWP expects peak electricity demand in the Duqm area to grow at 19 per cent a year, driven by the residential and commercial developments associated with Duqm SEZ. This would bring demand from 19MW in 2014 to 65MW in 2021, excluding Duqm SEZ.

Currently demand is met by a 67MW diesel-fired power plant owned and operated by the Rural Areas Electricity Company.