Grid ambitions raise stakes for cable makers

MUSCAT, July 1
Oman’s shift towards renewable energy, electrification and digital infrastructure is opening a larger role for local manufacturers, while also raising questions over grid readiness, supply-chain resilience and the ability of domestic industry to compete on quality, cost and delivery.
Oman Cables Chief Executive Officer Erkan Aydoğdu said the company is preparing for stronger demand from renewable energy projects, power networks, industrial expansion and digital infrastructure, as electricity becomes more central to economic activity.
“Oman Cables has a strong industrial foundation, deep local roots and an established position in the market,” he said. “But the energy and infrastructure landscape is changing quickly.”
The policy backdrop is clear. Oman aims to generate 30 per cent of its electricity from renewable sources by 2030. Reaching that target will require more than solar and wind projects. It will also depend on grid connections, transmission and distribution networks, and infrastructure capable of managing more complex power flows.
For cable manufacturers, this changes the nature of demand. Customers are no longer looking only at basic supply. Technical reliability, safety, lifecycle performance, sustainability standards and delivery timelines are becoming more important in procurement decisions.
Aydoğdu said Oman Cables sees this shift as an opportunity to move from a traditional product-supply role towards more specialised energy and infrastructure solutions.
“The market is moving towards more integrated solutions,” he said. “Customers are looking for reliability, performance, sustainability and systems that can serve specific applications.”
The opportunity, however, is not automatic. It will depend on the pace of renewable project awards, industrial investment, grid upgrades and the ability of local manufacturers to compete with regional and international suppliers. Pricing pressure, technical certification and supply-chain capacity will remain important tests.
Oman Cables, which has operated for more than 40 years, is investing in additional capacity and technical capability. Aydoğdu said the company’s Plant 3 investment is increasing medium-voltage capacity, while its Renewable Excellence Centre is designed to support applications linked to renewable energy projects.
The company’s wider industrial platform includes Oman Aluminium Processing Industries SPC in Sohar and Associated Cables Private Limited in India. Aydoğdu said these operations support the group’s value chain, from aluminium rod and conductor production to specialised cable solutions.
Such integration could become more important as countries seek more secure supply chains for strategic infrastructure. But local manufacturing will still need to show that it can meet international performance standards while remaining commercially competitive.
Digital infrastructure is another emerging demand driver. Data centres, cloud services, artificial intelligence and industrial automation require stable and high-performance power systems. Aydoğdu said this is creating new requirements for cable design, testing and reliability.
“The market is moving towards more integrated and technology-driven infrastructure systems,” he said. “Our focus is to remain ready for that shift with strong local capability and global standards.”
Oman Cables’ relationship with Prysmian is also part of its positioning. Aydoğdu described Prysmian as a strategic and technological partner that gives the company access to international expertise, quality standards and research and development capability.
He said Oman Cables also serves as Prysmian’s regional headquarters for the Middle East, Africa, Russia and Turkey, reflecting the company’s operational base in Oman and its regional role within the wider group.
Beyond commercial expansion, Aydoğdu said local value creation remains central to the company’s role in Oman. Omanisation at Oman Cables exceeds 53 per cent across the organisation, compared with the 35 per cent manufacturing requirement set by the Ministry of Labour.
But he said localisation should be judged by skills and leadership development, not only by percentages.
“Omanisation should not be treated only as a percentage,” he said. “The real test is whether companies are developing Omani talent for technical and leadership roles.”
The company runs more than 10 development programmes annually, covering technical expertise, leadership, career progression and cross-functional learning. It also supports education-related initiatives aimed at encouraging interest in science, technology and engineering.
For Oman, the wider issue is whether industrial companies can help deepen local supply chains as the country pursues economic diversification under Oman Vision 2040. Renewable energy, grid modernisation, data infrastructure and industrial growth all require a stronger technical base.
Aydoğdu said local value creation should be seen in that wider context.
“Local value creation is not only about what we produce,” he said. “It is about what we build around the business — people, skills, knowledge and long-term industrial resilience.”
As Oman expands its renewable energy pipeline and prepares for a more electricity-intensive economy, companies such as Oman Cables are likely to face both opportunity and scrutiny. The next phase will test whether domestic manufacturers can convert national infrastructure demand into competitive industrial growth.