MUSCAT: In line with the government’s Net-Zero commitments, Oman’s power authorities are studying the potential to harness solar and wind resources to meet electricity demand growth in Musandam Governorate — a strategically vital Omani enclave overlooking the Strait of Hormuz.
Infrastructure and economic development in the governorate has, of late, been on the upswing as the government seeks to leverage Musandam’s strategic location, distinctive geography and natural wealth to drive investment in tourism, livestock, fisheries, light manufacturing and mining, among other economic activities.
Meeting the governorate’s future energy growth demands amid the current transition away from fossil fuel powered generation is a significant challenge for authorities, primarily because Musandam is presently served by local standalone systems unconnected to the national grid.
But to address this challenge, Nama Power and Water Procurement Company (PWP) – the sole national buyer of power and water output — is weighing two notable options. The first centres on opportunities to connect Musandam’s Power System with the networks of a neighbouring country (the only practical option in this case being the United Arab Emirates, which borders the governorate).
Harnessing renewable energy resources is the other option. “PWP is exploring several sites within Musandam Governorate to develop wind and/or solar projects,” the company — part of Nama Group – noted in its recent 7-Year Outlook Statement.
“PWP will continue exploring and investigating the availability of sites and potential of wind and solar in Musandam (Governorate),” it added. Musandam’s local economy and its population of around 54,000 people currently receive their power needs from two sets of supplies.
The first comprises a network of diesel powered generators owned and operated by Tanweer (a subsidiary of Nama Group). Total generation capacity of these plants, located in Khasab and Dibba, is about 92 MW.
Supplementing supplies from Tanweer is the relatively new Musandam Independent Power Project (IPP) with a capacity of 123 MW powered primarily by natural gas.
Under PWP’s energy demand growth projections, peak demand in the governorate is expected to grow from 80 MW in 2022 to 104 MW in 2029, an average increase of 4 per cent per year.
In the high case scenario, peak demand is projected to grow by an average 6 per cent per annum to reach 119 MW in 2029, fuelled by expectations of increased tourism, fishery and other economic developmental activities.
With diesel-based generation from Tanweer scheduled to fall out of contract by the end of 2026, alternative generation capacity – potentially renewables-based – will have to be explored, says PPP, adding that it plans to study suitable alternatives in collaboration with stakeholders such as Oman Electricity Transmission Company (OETC) and OQ Group.
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