MUSCAT, SEPT 10
Last week’s blackout that left huge swathes of northern Oman without electricity was the most severe by far in over a decade, according to official data from the Authority for Public Services Regulation (APSR).
Blamed on a technical glitch in one of the networks of Oman Electricity Transmission Company (OETC), the owner and operator of the country’s two main grids, the episode is currently the subject of a thorough investigation spearheaded by the regulator.
The outage paralysed commercial, industrial and economic life in the governorates of North and South Al Sharqiyah, Al Dakhiliyah and South Al Batinah, besides the capital city for between six to 12 hours.
No country anywhere in the world, regardless of their technological prowess, can claim to be immune from electricity outages. The Sultanate of Oman too has had its share of blackouts – ranging from minor to moderate and severe – attributable to adverse weather events, such as cyclones and severe flooding, as well as technical failures. All of these automatically typically trigger a full-fledged investigation by the Authority. And where responsibility has to be apportioned, the regulator has typically not held back from taking culpable transmission and distribution companies to task, often with a censure.
The Observer does a deep dive into some of the most significant blackouts and outages recorded across the Sultanate of Oman over the past decade, (starting with the most recent):
Effects of Cyclone Shaheen (October 2021): Around 120,000 electricity customers in the governorates of Muscat, and North and South Al Batinah suffered varying periods of power disruption in the aftermath of the cyclone during October 2 – 5, 2021. Gusting winds and floodwaters damaged electricity assets, including substations, poles, transmission and distribution lines, and internal wiring connections of individual customers.
Madinat Al Sultan Qaboos Blackout (June 30, 2021): The tripping of two power transformers at Madinat Al Sultan Qaboos in Muscat triggered a wider disruption that caused “a significant power supply interruption to a large number of customers”, according to the regulator.
Salalah Blackout (July 6, 2021): The Dhofar Power System (DPS) experienced a total system blackout when a local power plant failed to automatically change over to diesel fuel. The incident, according to APSR, “triggered a chain reaction of other events that led to the loss of the whole system and a complete blackout of the Dhofar Power System”.
Lima Blackout (July 1, 2019): An investigation of the “sustained blackout” that hit Lima in Musandam Governorate uncovered “several serious safety, operational and customer service deficiencies that contributed to the outage being extended far beyond an acceptable limit”, the regulator noted.
Hasik Blackout (November 9 – 10, 2018): A sustained blackout in the village of Hasik in Dhofar Governorate prompted a review, which also unearthed “serious safety, operational and customer service deficiencies”.
Eid Day Blackout (June 15, 2018): Following a sustained blackout during the Eid Al Fitr holiday in the village of Al Afiyah in Dhalkhiyah Governorate, the Authority conducted a review of the actions taken by the local distribution company.
Khasab Blackout – May 31, 2016): A blackout at Khasab power station disrupted power supplies to the Khasab system which included a second system blackouts and an extended period of demand management.
Rusayl investigation – May 7, 2015: A flashover on a 33kV circuit breaker at Rusayl Grid led to a significant blackout that affected over 800 customers, including Sultan Qaboos University campus, a hospital, Knowledge Oasis Muscat, industrial and residential customers, with a loss of supply for around 13 hours.
Salalah Blackout (August 14, 2014): Following a complete blackout sustained by the Salalah system, the regulator commissioned an independent investigation of both the root causes of the blackout and the manner in which supplies were restored.
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