Nama Electricity Distribution plans to invest more than RO600 million ($1.6 billion) between 2026 and 2029 to expand and strengthen electricity networks, upgrade infrastructure and accelerate the transition towards a smart, data-driven power distribution system across Oman.

The investment programme will focus on improving network reliability, enhancing operational efficiency and preparing infrastructure to meet future electricity demand, while expanding the use of digital technologies, artificial intelligence (AI) and advanced data analytics.

The company said its next phase of development would move beyond network digitisation towards maximising the value of data to improve services, strengthen network management and deliver a better experience for subscribers.

Khalfan Al Bartamani, Chief Commercial Officer at Nama Electricity Distribution, told Oman News Agency (ONA) that the company was working to integrate smart meters, Geographic Information Systems (GIS), Supervisory Control and Data Acquisition (SCADA), Advanced Distribution Management Systems (ADMS), and network sensing and control technologies.

The integration is expected to enable real-time network monitoring, faster fault detection, more rapid emergency response and shorter electricity restoration times.

Nama is also expanding the use of big data, advanced analytics and AI to develop applications that monitor the condition and performance of network assets.

These technologies will support predictive maintenance, allowing potential faults to be identified earlier and maintenance activities to be directed more accurately.

Al Bartamani said the transformation would also improve subscriber services through faster responses to reports, more effective outage management and better coordination between operational teams.

The company has already implemented an outage management system linking its call centre with emergency response teams.

The system uses real-time monitoring, operational data and GIS technology to help locate faults and accelerate responses to service interruptions.

Nama will continue developing substations and distribution networks, improving asset management, supporting renewable energy integration and promoting local value addition and national skills development as part of its wider modernisation programme.

Network investment and infrastructure development

Nama operates, maintains and develops an electricity distribution network extending more than 105,000 kilometres across the governorates within its service area, excluding Dhofar Governorate.

The company serves approximately 1.4 million subscribers, with electricity services reaching 100% of populated areas within its operational scope.

Over recent years, its projects have included expanding and strengthening networks across different voltage levels, constructing and upgrading substations, connecting new subscribers and implementing digital transformation and automation initiatives.

Capital expenditure reached approximately RO120 million by the end of October 2025. Of this amount, around RO61 million was allocated to 11-kilovolt (kV) network projects and approximately RO19 million to 33kV projects.

Key initiatives during the period included network expansion and reinforcement, automation projects, remote monitoring and control systems, and the development of outage management capabilities across several governorates.

The planned investment for 2026-2029 is expected to build on these efforts, increasing network capacity and readiness while supporting economic growth and rising electricity demand.

Smart meters and grid automation

Smart meter infrastructure remains a central element of Nama’s digital transformation strategy.

The deployment rate reached approximately 80% by the end of 2025, improving consumption data accuracy and supporting more effective load management and operational planning.

Al Bartamani said the company viewed smart meters as more than a means of recording electricity consumption, describing them as essential digital infrastructure for developing services and improving network performance.

Nama is integrating smart meters with GIS, SCADA, ADMS and other operational systems to create a more connected and efficient electricity distribution network.

During 2025, the company also completed its Automatic Load Transfer System project between transformers, achieving 100% completion.

The system automatically restores electricity supply when a transformer fails, helping improve network reliability and reduce outage durations.

In addition, Nama is integrating fault-location systems and remote-control units with SCADA to improve fault identification, accelerate restoration and enhance subscriber satisfaction.

Reliability and Oman Vision 2040

Nama reported measurable improvements in network reliability, with the average outage duration reaching approximately 177 minutes in 2025.

The average outage frequency stood at around two interruptions per subscriber.

The company’s ongoing digitalisation and infrastructure investments are intended to further improve these indicators by enabling faster fault detection, more targeted maintenance and more effective network control.

The initiatives support Oman Vision 2040, particularly its objectives for infrastructure development, digital transformation, operational efficiency and economic diversification.

By combining infrastructure investment with smart-grid technologies, renewable energy integration and national workforce development, Nama aims to establish a more flexible, reliable and efficient electricity distribution system capable of meeting Oman’s future energy needs while improving services for subscribers.