MUSCAT: Centralised Utilities Company LLC (Marafiq), a joint venture owned by OQ and Gulf Energy Development Corporation of Thailand, signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with Siemens Energy LLC, to cooperate in the fields of innovation in the energy and water sectors.
The MoU provides opportunities to work on advanced technologies, research & development and accelerate the local, Omani capabilities and knowledge in line with Oman Vision 2040. Marafiq and Siemens Energy have a Long-Term Services Agreement (25 years) for the gas turbines and this MoU will expand the cooperation, emphasize the long-term relationship and maintain the ongoing mutual collaboration.
The MoU was signed by Eng Abdullah bin Mohammed al Hashimi, Managing Director of Marafiq, and Khalid Bin Hadi, Managing Director, Oman, Siemens Energy.
At the signing ceremony, Eng Abdullah al Hashimi pointed out that the MoU is in line with Marafiq’s efforts to collaborate with internationally renowned companies and benefit from their expertise in the energy and water sectors. It further provides professional training opportunities for Omanis in international companies that are specialised in the sectors in which Marafiq operates. “We value our collaboration with Siemens Energy, and we look forward to the memorandum’s contribution to creating wide-ranging cooperation between both parties”, Al Hashimi commented.
It is worth noting that Marafiq manages the power and water sectors in the Special Economic Zone at Duqm (SEZAD) under a long-term agreement with OPAZ and enjoys the capability to produce power exceeding 400 megawatts to serve Duqm Refinery, Oil Storage Park in Ras Markaz, industrial, commercial and tourism projects, and residential properties in the Zone. Moreover, Marafiq operates ta potable water desalination plant with production capacity of up to 9,000 cubic meters per day.
Marafiq also provides industrial cooling water for Duqm Refinery and has the capacity to provide for future industrial projects at SEZAD through an industrial water desalination plant with a capacity of 36,000 cubic meters per day. Furthermore, Marafiq operates seawater intake facilities with a supply capacity of 1.5 million cubic meters per day and a water outtake line with a capacity of 1 million cubic meters per day.
On the other hand, Khalid Bin Hadi commended on the collaboration between the two companies, saying “As a world leading energy technology, innovation sits at the heart of our company’s success. But innovation requires strong partners, collaboration and research and development. Agreements like this pave the way for significant progress. We look forward to working with Marafiq to explore opportunities in the field of power, develop local Omani capabilities, further knowledge sharing and cooperate in other aspects of interest to both companies that will contribute to the economic development of Oman.”
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