MUSCAT, MARCH 15
Oman Deep Ocean LLC (ODO), the local subsidiary of Singapore-based Transocean Fortune Integrator (Water) [TFIW] – a leading specialist in deep ocean water downstream industries – has announced the signing of partnerships designed to harvest deep ocean water to support a wide range of industries, centring primarily around water and food security.A feasibility study commissioned by the Singaporean firm has found that deep ocean water (DOW) in Oman’s proximity is exceptionally pure, cold and mineral rich, making it ideal for various applications, including agriculture, aquaculture, bottled drinking water, health and wellness, district cooling and renewable energy.
“We believe that Oman’s greatest resource asset lies in deep ocean water as a proven inexhaustible reserve. Securing the future of the next generation begins today with the Oman Deep Ocean Water Project,” TFIW noted in an overview of its groundbreaking initiative.
Earlier this month, Oman Deep Ocean LLC signed key agreements that will pave the way for the landmark project to be implemented in phases. Notable is an Engineering, Procurement and Construction (EPC) contract signed with China National Electric Engineering Company (CNEEC), a specialised engineering services contractor, covering the execution of Phase 1 of the Oman Deep Ocean Water Project.
Deep ocean water resources harnessed during this phase will be utilised towards the following activities: (i) Desalination to enhance freshwater availability and advance water security; (ii) Production of high-quality premium bottled water sourced from the deep ocean; (iii) Extraction of valuable minerals and salts from deep-sea water for various food and industrial applications; (iv) Utilising mineral-rich, cold deep-ocean water to support sustainable farming and aquaculture initiatives; and (v) supporting District Cooling by implementing energy-efficient cooling solutions for industrial parks.
A workshop hosted by project promoters in Muscat last September brought together leading international experts to collaborate and share their expertise in the development of a sustainable, well-designed deep ocean water industrial park in Oman. Top officials of Oman’s Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries and Water Resources, as well as Oman Investment Authority, were in attendance.
Representatives of leading Singaporean consultancy firm Surbana Jurong and CNEEC (China) also presented on the findings of their study into the feasibility of the overall project.
Qurayat, with its access to some of the most optimal deep ocean water resources, is seen as ideal to host the proposed industrial park.
Key initiatives planned for implementation in Phase I include a bottled water manufacturing plant and a 50,000 tonnes per day water desalination plant.
Pilot trials for agriculture and aquaculture applications are also planned with the goal to improve crop yield and quality.
In later phases plan, the needs of regional and international export markets are proposed to be met.
Significantly, the project also has the potential to position Oman as a hub for deep ocean water resources catering to the needs of the wider Gulf region – an area that faces similar water-related challenges.
Already, salinity in the Arabian Gulf – a water body that hosts the largest concentration of desalination plants in the world – is rising exponentially, while pollution and other climate threats heighten these risks.
With Oman’s access to prodigious deep ocean water, it is well-placed to mitigate such risks for its GCC peers, TFIW stresses.
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