Oman’s power imports to hit 1600 MW with second interconnect

Oman’s power imports to hit 1600 MW with second interconnect

MUSCAT: A new interconnect with the electricity grid of neighbouring Saudi Arabia has the potential to boost net energy imports into the Sultanate of Oman to around 1600 MW, up from 400 MW presently, according to the Oman Power and Water Procurement Company (OPWP), the sole national buyer of power and desalinated water output.

When operational, the proposed interconnection with Saudi Arabia – only the second after Oman’s existing interconnection with the United Arab Emirates (UAE) via Abu Dhabi – will ensure stability of electricity supplies in the event of any contingency, among other benefits, says state-run OPWP, a member of Nama Group.

The GCC Interconnection Authority (GCCIA), which facilitates grid linkages and energy trades between the six member states of the GCC, has already undertake a detailed study of an interconnection directly from Ibri on the Omani side to Salwa in Saudi Arabia. It envisions the potential for a 400 kV DC link spanning the roughly 700km distance between the two locations.

“The study’s outcomes indicated that the net transfer capacity to Oman would increase from 400 MW to about 1,600 MW. Accordingly, it is expected that the two interconnects would contribute more to the planning reserve requirements,” OPWP stated in a