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EDITOR IN CHIEF- ABDULLAH BIN SALIM AL SHUEILI

Musandam’s gas-fired power plant goes operational

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MUSANDAM, JULY 15 - Musandam Power Company SAOC (MPC), an affiliated company of Oman Gas Company SAOC (OGC), has successfully commenced commercial operation of its 120MW dual-fuel power plant located in the Wilayat of Bukha, Musandam Governorate. The dual-fuel plant will use natural gas as its primary fuel, with light fuel oil as a back-up to ensure uninterrupted power production. Electricity output will be sent to the existing medium voltage grid through a new 132KV transmission line being built by the Rural Areas Electricity Company SAOC. The project’s 120MW net output capacity will support demand growth in Musandam Governorate.


MPC’s power plant has completed the necessary tests and is now ready to serve Musandam with clean power for the life time of the plant, having first exported power into the grid in April of this year.


Sultan bin Hamad al Burtmani, Acting Executive Managing Director of OGC said: “We are very pleased to have reached this important milestone. MPC is the first Omani power project developed by an Omani developer and in doing so represents an important step for OGC’s power strategy. OGC’s long-term goal is to establish the first internationally recognised Omani independent developer of different energy sources.”


Under a Power Purchase Agreement (PPA) signed by MPC with Oman Power and Water Procurement Company (OPWP), the electrical output will be sold to OPWP for a period of 15 years.


Sultan al Burtmani[/caption]

Yaqoob bin Saif al Kiyumi, Chief Executive Officer of OPWP, commented: “This new electrical capacity from this plant will contribute to the growing power demand to meet the needs of urban, industrial and tourism development in the Governorate of Musandam. Additionally, the operation of this plant will contribute significantly to the reduction of the electricity generation cost in the region as the plant will be operated by using natural gas for the first time in the governorate.”


Salim bin Marhoon al Hashmi, MPC Director, added: “The plant comprises 15 Wartsila dual-fuel 34DF engines allowing for ultra-flexible operations, such as responding to load variations between 10MW and 120MW.


Salim al Hashmi[/caption]

The plant will run in island mode on the isolated Musandam grid, making reliability a key feature. It can operate in extreme conditions including high humidity and temperatures of up to 50 degrees Celsius. It will play an essential role in delivering flexible and sustainable energy to the governorate.”


As Oman’s first independent power project in the Musandam Governorate, MPC will use natural gas processed by OOC’s wholly owned subsidiary, Oman Oil Company Exploration and Production from the adjacent Musandam Gas Processing Plant to integrate the value chain and maximise value from Oman’s resources.


The new plant was constructed and will be operated by the technology provider Wartsila Muscat LLC, a global leader in advanced technologies and complete lifecycle solutions for marine and energy markets.


Business Reporter


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