Oman reveals applicants of 500 MW solar tender

The Oman Power and Water Procurement company (OPWP) has published the list of the 28 Statement of Qualifications (SoQs) it received under its 500 MW solar tender, launched in late December.

The utility said that the high number of applicants represents “the continued interest and trust in the Oman power sector, which takes fairness, transparency and economic purchase as key pillars of its structure and framework.”

Among the 28 applicants, there are a number of single bidders, which are well-known big solar players, including SB Energy Holdings Limited, NTPC Ltd, Mitsui & Co., Ltd, Marubeni Corporation, ACWA Power, Sumitomo Corporation, Hanwha Q Cells and X-Elio.

Furthermore, the list includes consortia formed by GCL New Energy International Limited and Alfanar Company; EDF Energies Nouvelles and Korea Electric Power Corporation (KEPCO); TBEA Xinjiang SunOasis Co.,Ltd. and Oman National Engineering & Investment Co ( SAOG); Gruppo Industriale Maccaferri, Shannon Energy Corporation and Global Industrial Services; SOWIWA Group, Kalmen-ME & HECT and Gulf Musanada; Abu Dhabi Future Energy Company PJSC ( Masadar) and Total Solar; and Zorlu Enerji Elektrik Uretim A.S and Abengoa Energa, S.A.

OPWP said that the evaluation of the SoQs is currently being conducted, and that potential bidders will be informed of the status of their qualification after the necessary approvals are obtained.

The tendered project, which will be the country’s first large utility-scale PV independent power project (IPP), will be located in Ibri, around 300 km west from Muscat, and will be built at an estimated cost of around US$500 million.

The feasibility study for the huge solar park was finalized by the OPWP in late October. The facility will be connected to the Main Interconnected System in Oman (MIS), when complete.