Oman is planning to develop another large-scale grid-connected solar photovoltaic (PV)project. The project is slated to have a capacity between 500 MW and 1,000 MW.

The Oman Power and Water Procurement Company SAOC (OPWP), a member of Nama Group, has initiated the process for the second utility scale solar PV project to be connected to the Main Interconnected System in Oman. The project, with a capacity between 500 MW to 1000 MW, will be known as Solar 2022 IPP (Project).

OPWP has sought proposals from interested bidders to provide technical consultancy services for the development of the project and to advice on the competitive tendering of the project. The last date of submission of bids is November 13, 2018.

OPWP has stated that a bank guarantee of not less than 1 percent of the tender value must be enclosed as part of the tender. The bank guarantee must be valid for a 120-day period from the submission deadline date. OPWP is not obliged to accept the lowest tender offer.

To meet its increasing energy demands, Oman has, of late, turned towards harnessing the inexhaustible solar energy.

This will be the third large-scale solar project in Oman, after it’s developed. In January 2018,  Petroleum Development Oman (PDO), an oil and gas production company, tendered a 100 MW grid-connected solar photovoltaic (PV) project to be developed in Amin, Oman.

Prior to that, in December 2017, OPWP announced a Request for Qualification (RFQ) for a 500 MW utility-scale solar project in in the country.