Oman is expected to launch the tendering process for the setting up of the Sultanate’s first large-scale solar Independent Power Project (IPP) before the end of this year, a media report quoted a top official as saying.

Major progress is being made in weighing the feasibility of utilising coal for power generation for the first time in the Sultanate, Yaqoob bin Saif al Kiyumi, chief executive officer of the Oman Power and Water Procurement Company (OPWP) was quoted as adding in the Oman Observer report.

“We are presently working on the qualification procedures for a big solar project, a Request for Qualifications (RfQ) for which will be issued before the end of this year,” Al Kiyumi said. “This will be a first ‘child’ in renewables, and one of the big projects of its kind in the region.”

The solar project will come in Ibri, Manah or Adam, he said.

No decision has been taken yet on the configuration of the project or its ultimate location, he added.

OPWP is eyeing a coal-based scheme of a capacity of roughly 1,800 MW, give or take 600MW, said Al Kiyumi. “It would definitely have to be done in phases, and we will have to take into consideration the demand growth in that area as well. We wouldn’t want to have surplus capacity concentrated in one location,” he added.

Duqm, he said, was among multiple locations under consideration for a coal based power plant. The ultimate location would depend on demand growth in that area.