Leading global engineering, consulting and construction giant Black & Veatch says it is in discussion with the lead developer of a major clean energy project planned at the Special Economic Zone (SEZ) in Duqm in the southeast of Oman.
On Monday, the Public Authority for Special Economic Zones and Free Zones (OPAZ), which oversees the Sultanate’s SEZs and free zone developments, signed an agreement earmarking a sizable swathe of land for a world-scale Green Hydrogen & Green Ammonia project promoted by ACME Group, India’s largest solar power developer.
ACME has outlined plans for an integrated facility powered by 3 GWp of solar and 0.5 GWp of wind energy to produce 2,400 tons per day (TPD) of green ammonia equating to about 0.9 million tons annually.
Black & Veatch, a leading player in the global renewable and green hydrogen space, has confirmed to the Observer that it is in talks with ACME Group in the implementation of the prestigious project.
“Black & Veatch is very pleased to be in discussion with ACME in supporting the company’s green hydrogen and ammonia project in Oman. Black & Veatch is finalising its engagement plan with ACME for the various stages of the project,” a spokesperson from the company stated in response to a query from the newspaper.
Earlier, in a press statement following the signing of the land lease agreement with OPAZ, Manoj K Upadhyay, Founder & Chairman, ACME Group, commented: “The signing of land reservation agreement will allow us to kick start pre-construction activities. We have hired environmental consultants and owner’s engineers Black & Veatch and we plan to start the construction at Oman as soon we commission our first green hydrogen and green ammonia plant at Bikaner in India. The plant in Oman would be developed in phases and the first phase is likely to be commissioned by end of 2022.”
Also present at the virtual event were Dr Ali Masoud al Sunaidy, Chairman of the Board of Directors of OPAZ, and Ahmed Hassan al Dheeb, Deputy Chairman, and Jalal al Lawati, Director – Marketing, OPAZ.
Collaborating with ACME Group as its partner in the Oman venture is the Oman Company for the Development of SEZ at Duqm SAOC (Tatweer), a wholly owned subsidiary of OPAZ. The two sides had signed an MoU to this effect in March.
ACME Group is also in the process of establishing itself as a major player in India’s burgeoning renewables and green hydrogen industry. It is currently commissioning what is billed as the world’s first integrated green hydrogen and green ammonia plant in Bikaner in northwest India. The Group also holds a portfolio of operational and under-construction solar projects of a total capacity of 6 GWp distributed across India.
US-headquartered Black & Veatch already has a well-established presence in the Sultanate, notably in the power and water infrastructure sectors. Founded in 1915, Black & Veatch specialises in infrastructure development in energy, water, telecommunications, management consulting, federal and environmental markets. Services include conceptual and preliminary engineering services, engineering design, procurement, construction, financial management, and asset management. The employee-owned company has more than 110 offices worldwide. (Picture for illustration only)
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