MUSCAT: The Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries and Water Resources (MoAFWR) on Wednesday signed an agreement with Nama Water Services Company for the supply, installation and operation of a smart metering system to measure water consumption in licensed groundwater wells across the governorates of the Sultanate of Oman. The system aims to enhance the management of water resources and ensure their sustainability.
The first phase of the project covers the installation and operation of smart meters for about 1,000 licensed wells from January 1, 2027 to December 31, 2028. It includes wells that supply aflaj, the traditional irrigation systems, as well as water bottling units, investment and development projects, sites under land-use agreements and farms.
The agreement was signed by Eng Ali bin Mohammed al Abri, Under-Secretary of the Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries and Water Resources for Water Resources, and Qais bin Saud al Zakwani, CEO of Nama Water Services Company.
The agreement seeks to launch a unified national digital platform for monitoring groundwater consumption. Smart meters will be installed and connected electronically through an integrated system to provide an accurate, real-time flow of data that helps track consumption indicators, improve the management of water resources and support data-driven decision-making.
Nama Water Services will fund the project, supply and install the meters, manage their operation and oversee the digital platform. The ministry will be responsible for monitoring the system and developing regulations and policies on groundwater wells, with the aim of protecting water resources and ensuring their long-term sustainability.
The system relies on a local cloud infrastructure and the wireless communication technology LoRaWAN. Its features adhere to national standards on the confidentiality and protection of personal data, cybersecurity and the use of advanced encryption techniques, under the supervision of the authorities concerned.
The agreement is part of national efforts to strengthen water security and preserve groundwater resources for future generations, in line with Oman’s sustainable development goals. — ONA
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