Friday, March 29, 2024 | Ramadan 18, 1445 H
clear sky
weather
OMAN
25°C / 25°C
EDITOR IN CHIEF- ABDULLAH BIN SALIM AL SHUEILI

Oman set to launch work on Phase 2 of power interconnector project

New milestones: Tenders for 3 new grid stations and other works to be floated in the coming months, says OETC
No Image
minus
plus

Oman Electricity Transmission Company (OETC), the sole owner and operator of the nation’s two principal standalone transmission systems, says it is preparing to embark on the second phase of its landmark project to interconnect the two networks into one unified national grid.


The North-South Interconnector project, also known as ‘Rabt’, is being spearheaded by majority state-owned OETC – part of Nama Group – with an investment of around RO 372 million over two phases.


Phase 1, currently nearing completion, covers the construction of around 660 kilometres of 400kV overhead transmission lines linking the Main Interconnected System (MIS) in the north of Oman with the isolated networks of Petroleum Development Oman (PDO) and the Rural Areas Electricity Company (Tanweer) in Duqm.


In Phase 2, due to commence later this year, 400kV transmission lines will run from Duqm further south for a distance of about 502 kilometres to link up with the existing Dhofar System.


In a post, OETC said it is gearing up to kick off construction work on Phase 2 of the Rabt project. “Moving on to the second phase of the project, Rabt2, which involves the construction of three additional grid stations, we are currently in the process of preparing for tenders that will be floated in the coming months. We are excited to move forward with this phase and continue our commitment to expanding and improving the Sultanate's power sector,” the company stated.


The announcement comes as the transmission company brings phase 1 of the interconnection project to a successful close later this year. It was launched in October 2020 with the signing of contracts totaling RO 183 million in value.


“The first phase is well underway, with the construction of five grid stations: Nihayda GS, Barik GS, Suwaihat GS, Duqm GS, and Mahout GS, along with 400 kV transmission lines that connect the grid stations. We are pleased to report that completion of this phase has already reached about 93 per cent, and we expect to finish these projects by the end of the third quarter of this year,” the national transmission company noted.


As a strategic national initiative, the Rabt project will unlock benefits that go far beyond the obvious advantages offered by the interconnection of Oman’s standalone networks into a national grid. Besides integrating far-flung Haima and Mahout in Al Wusta Governorate into the national grid, the interconnected system will also strengthen electricity supply to PDO areas, currently served by a 132kV network. Additionally, the project will reduce PDO’s dependence on gas-fired power generation for its electricity needs.


Importantly, interconnection will pave the way for vast areas of Al Wusta Governorate, which are deemed optimal for solar and wind power projects, to be developed as part of the country’s future green energy ambitions. Energy efficiency and security of supply are added advantages as well.


SHARE ARTICLE
arrow up
home icon