MUSCAT: Leading French developer EDF Renewables and its consortium partner, Korea Western Power Co Ltd (KOWEPO), announced on Tuesday, September 12, 2023, the groundbreaking at site of their 500-megawatt (MW) Manah 1 Solar Photovoltaic (PV) Power Plant.
The plant, which is located approximately 120 kilometres south from Muscat city, is setting a new benchmark for the solar power market in Oman. The milestone was marked with a private ceremony supported by congratulatory messages from key partners including the Authority for Public Services Regulation (APSR) and the buyer, Nama Power & Water Procurement (PWP).
EDF Renewables and KOWEPO also finalised and selected Worley as Owner engineer for the project.
Worley will work alongside the Wadi Noor Solar Power Company to deliver the PV plant in a timely manner in accordance with the highest standards on the market.
The ceremony was held at the project site with a high-level dignitaries to celebrate the achievement of the project’s mobilisation milestone.
In the presence of senior delegates, Dr Mansoor al Hinai, Chairman of APSR, Shaikh Dr Faisal bin Ali al Zaidi, Wali of Manah, Eng Ahmed al Subhi, Chairman of NAMA; Ahmed al Mahrizi, Group CEO of Nama; Yaqoob al Kiyumi, CEO of PWP, the official representatives of the Embassy of France in Oman; the Ambassador of the Republic of Korea in Oman Kim Kiejoo; Olivier Bordes, CEO Middle East of EDF Renewables, KO; Youn Ho, Managing Director Overseas Business of KOWEPO; and the Project Company reiterated their commitment to contributing to the sustainability targets of the Sultanate of Oman’s renewable energy sector.
Olivier BORDES, CEO Middle East, EDF Renewables said: “This project demonstrates EDF Renewables support for Oman’s Vision 2030 objectives and its climate goals. Sustainability, low-carbon innovative solutions and nurtured local knowledge are the cornerstone for EDF Renewables. We will continue to work with the Sultanate of Oman’s government on driving its clean energy transition, while supporting the Sultanate of Oman in reaching its renewables capacity target of 30% by 2030”.
“Moreover, once fully operational the project will considerably contribute to power with clean electricity 50,000 Omani homes while offsetting over 780,000 tonnes of CO2 per year,” he added.
Ko, Youn Ho, Managing Director Overseas Business of KOWEPO in the Middle East, said: “We will do our best to work alongside our partner to ensure the smooth implementation of the Manah 1 project to satisfy with the energy transition plan in Oman.”
The plant will span over approximately 7.8 square kilometres in the Al Dakhiliyah Governorate. The 500 MW photovoltaic plant will become the benchmark for the Oman’s solar market deploying over 1 million bifacial PV modules mounted on a single axis tracker system.
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