State utility Oman Power & Water Procurement Company (OPWP) has invited consultants to submit proposals for the contract to conduct a gas import and contracting study.

OPWP has invited firms to submit proposals by 29 November to conduct a study evaluating the economics, commercial and strategic risks in importing natural gas to Oman as a fuel for power generation. The study will also provide possible arrangements for gas allocation and supply contracting within Oman’s power sector.

While the sultanate exports liquefied natural gas (LNG), it imports gas to meet growing demand through the dolphin pipeline, via the UAE to meet growing demand.

OPWP is pushing ahead with a number of projects to diversify fuel resources used in the power generation sector. The utility has set a target of reducing the share of gas fuel for power generation from 100 per cent in 2018 to 83 per cent by 2024. To meet this target, Muscat has started the procurement process for a 500MW solar project and a 1,200MW coal-fired power plant.