Demand for power to rise 11pc each year

By Zainab Al Nasseri — MUSCAT: May 1 - The third edition of Oman Energy and Water Exhibition and Conference opened on Monday under the auspices of Sultan bin Salim bin Said al Habsi, Secretary-General of Supreme Council for Planning. The three-day event was organised by the Public Authority for Electricity and Water (PAEW) in cooperation with Omanexpo at the new Oman Convention and Exhibition Centre. It has introduced two new conferences apart from the main conference: Oman Automation and Control Summit and Oman Drainage and Wastewater Management Summit. Nearly 350 people from 150 local, regional and international firms are taking part, discussing energy development schemes, and policies in operation, management and maintenance processes. In his speech, Dr Ali al Ghafri, Chairman Assistant for International Relations and Media at PAEW, said: “As energy, water and drainage sectors play a vital role in the country’s development, it is an obligation to promote them to keep abreast with the constant economic and constructional expansion.” He said electricity sector was restructured in 2005, regulated by PAEW, and operated by Namaa Group. Ninety-eight per cent of urban areas are now covered by power supply as the production capacity reached 8,000 megawatts by the end of 2016. He said the demand for electricity is expected to increase in the next four years at 11 per cent annually. “The number of implemented as well as assigned projects from 2012 to 2019 stands at 12 projects at a cost of RO 3 billion. Four projects are currently being executed by the private sector in Musandam, Salalah, Ibri and Suhar with a total capacity of 3,784 megawatts,” he said. In the field of water networks’ transfer, many projects were set up to back up current lines and start new ones. Al Ghafri said a 577-km long network is expected to be finalised soon in the governorates of Al Batinah, Al Dhahirah, Al Dakhiliyah and Al Sharqiyah. A keynote presentation on energy subsidy restructuring was delivered by Mehmet Erturk, Vice-President of Energy Market Regulatory Authority of Turkey (EMRA). The first day’s sessions discussed Oman electricity transmission master plan, renewable energy projects, sustainable solutions, power and water renewable technologies, and waste-to-energy solutions. The accompanying exhibition showcased products, technologies and services from about 100 local and international power and water companies, including Austria, Bahrain, Germany, Hong Kong, Iran, Lebanon, Qatar, Spain, Turkey, United Arab Emirates, UK and USA. The UK pavilion featured 23 companies. Omanexpo has also set up an online matchmaking facility that allows individuals and companies to meet potential business partners at the event. The exhibition and conference will be open for visitors until May 3 from 10 am to 7 pm.