New power projects on stream - Work at 400m rial Salalah power plant under way - Ghubra Power Plant to be ready by 2013 - Feasibility study on solar energy plant

Work at the RO 400 million power generation plant in Salalah is progressing well. Two tenders have been floated for the third stage of a power plant in Barka and the second stage for the power plant in the Wilayat of Sohar. The operation of the two plants are expected to start in 2012.

This was revealed by Mohammed bin Abdullah al Mahrouqi, Chairman of the Public Authority for Electricity and Water and Chairman of the board of the Electricity Holding Company, yesterday. Speaking at the launch of a new era of digital transactions with electricity subscribers in the Sultanate by launching its new electronic portal, Al Mahrouqi said that the cost of projects related to electricity generation stands at about $6 billion.

He also pointed out that Ghubra Power Plant, which is expected to be completed in 2013, will be upgraded together with the power plant in the Wilayat of Al Duqm. As for the alternative energy projects, he said that there are some experimental projects in the rural areas and hopefully they will be announced in the coming period. He also pointed out that work is under way to prepare a detailed feasibility study to construct a solar energy plant to produce between 100 and 200 mega watts. Hopefully this study will be completed in July this year after which the timetable will be prepared.

In a statement to reporters, he said that the launching of the e-portal for the company came in response to the call of His Majesty Sultan Qaboos to upgrade the services rendered to citizens and residents in the Sultanate, especially electricity, one of the basic services. He added that it is necessary for the Electricity Holding Company to keep pace with technological developments. He hoped that the portal will play an effective role in rendering good services to subscribers. — ONA