In line with its long-term strategy to build a unified national grid that provides reliable and cost-competitive electricity to consumers, Oman Electricity Transmission Company (OETC) plans to connect Masirah Island off Oman’s eastern seaboard to its transmission system via a subsea power cable – a first such large-scale undertaking of this kind.
The cable – spanning a total distance of 33 kilometres under the Masirah Channel – is proposed to extend from a 132 kV overhead transmission running 60 kilometres from Mahout on the mainland all the way to the coast.
When operational by around late 2026, the project will help end Masirah Island’s longstanding dependence of diesel-powered electricity generation and enable supplies from a national grid that is being increasingly served by solar and wind-based power generation.
“The project, managed by the Oman Electricity Transmission Company, aims to develop the island, improve the efficiency and integration of the national electricity transmission network, reduce fossil fuel (diesel) consumption, which will result in reducing greenhouse gas emissions and reducing the cost of energy production,” said the Ministry of Energy and Minerals in its newly published Annual Report for 2022.
A network of diesel-powered plants operated by the Rural Areas Electricity Company (Tanweer) – part of Nama Group – currently meets the island’s energy needs. But with parts of the island designated for significant infrastructure, commercial, economic, fisheries and tourism development, electricity demand growth is anticipated to climb sharply in the coming years.
OETC, majority owned by Nama Group, has also been making substantial investments in expanding its two standalone transmission systems in the north and south of the country into one interconnected national grid. Phase 1 of the 400 kV interconnection project (known as ‘Rabt’) has enabled the expansion of the Main Interconnection System (MIS) not only southeastwards towards Duqm (and eventually south to Dhofar), but also eastwards towards Mahout. In the process, massive new tracts of desert land, suitable for renewable and green energy development, have been opened up for potential investment. The presence of transmission lines will enable the evacuation of green electricity from future projects set up in these parts.
Significantly, the subsea cable connection to Masirah Island is part of a new initiative by OETC to supply relatively small loads to remote areas falling within Tanweer’s auspices. It centres on the implementation of a High Voltage Tapping Scheme involving 400 kV lines – a project slated for completion by Q2 2025. Besides Masirah Island, coverage from the national grid will also be extended to Khuwaimah, Shahba Asaib, Mudhai, and Al Mazyunah by Q4 2026, according to OETC.
“These proposed extensions will enhance efficiency and reduce the cost of energy by displacing the existing diesel generation,” OETC added.
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