Plans for a small independent power project (IPP) at Musandam have been unveiled. The project will serve the electricity needs of the governorate and complement a new gas conditioning facility nearby.

The project, which comes under the authority of the Rural Areas Electricity Company (Raeco), will be tendered by Oman Power & Water Procurement Company (OPWP). Both are subsidiaries of Oman’s Electricity Holding Company.

Most of Musandam’s power comes from small and ageing facilities that use oil and diesel. The new project will be gas-fired and is likely to have a capacity of around 80-100MW. The final specifications of the project are yet to be determined. The project may also include a water desalination component.

OPWP is set to launch a tender for consultants to advise on the project shortly. Consortiums will be asked to submit bids covering the full range of advisory services.

The power plant will complement a gas conditioning project at Musandam. Oman Oil is expected to award a contract for the engineering, procurement and construction (EPC) of the facility by the end of November.

At present, gas from Musandam is transported to the UAE emirate of Ras al-Khaimah.Oman Oil’s facility will process the gas in the sultanate itself.