MUSCAT: Newly launched Wadi Noor Solar Power Company (WNSPC), the joint venture undertaking the implementation of a new 500 MW solar PV based Independent Power Project (IPP) at Manah in Al Dakhiliyah Governorate, has named Eng Yahya al Rawahi (pictured) as its new Chief Executive Officer (CEO).
Also known as ‘Manah I Solar IPP’, the project is in the early stages of construction in the Wilayat of Manah – one of two identical solar PV schemes that will be built side by side to create Oman’s biggest grid-connected renewable energy project with a combined capacity of 1,000 MW.
Prior to joining Manah-1, Eng Al Rawahi, a veteran of Oman’s nascent renewable energy industry, had helmed a number of pioneering solar PV projects in the Sultanate of Oman, including the 100 MW Amin Renewable Energy project of Petroleum Development Oman (PDO) and more recently the 500 MW grid-connected solar project of Shams Ad-Dhahira Generating Company SAOC (SAGC) in Ibri.
“We're thrilled to share some fantastic news with all of you. Today, we welcome Eng Yahya Al Rawahi as the new Chief Executive Officer at Wadi Noor Solar Power Company,” said the JV in a post over the weekend. “Eng Yahya brings a wealth of experience and leadership to our organization, with a proven track record in the solar industry. His arrival marks the beginning of an exciting new chapter for our company,” added
In May this year, Nama Power and Water Procurement (PWP), the national buyer of electricity and water output, signed agreements with Wadi Noor Solar for the development of Manah I Solar IPP with an investment of around $460 million. The partnership comprises EDF Renewables Middle East, the regional arm of leading international energy giant EDF Renewables, and Korea Western Power Co Ltd (KOWEPO), a key player in South Korea’s power sector.
Construction work on the massive facility is expected to begin in earnest from December 1, 2023. When fully operational by March 2025, it will generate enough renewable electricity to power an estimated 75,000 homes, while also offsetting over 1,100,000 metric tonnes of CO2 per year.
A similar construction timeframe is also envisaged for Manah II Solar IPP, the identical twin of Manah II Solar IPP coming up alongside. The latter project is being developed by a consortium of Singapore’s Sembcorp Industries Ltd and China-headquartered Jinko Power Technology Co Ltd.
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