Oman’s OPWP has issued a request for proposals (RfP) to international consortia for two 500MW solar PV plants at Manah. OPWP has already prequalified nine consortia consisting of international renewables heavyweights to implement the ‘Manah-1’ and ‘Manah-2’ projects on an IPP basis. Winners will carry out development, design, engineering, ownership and operation of the plants, with startup expected in 2022.
Oman has long planned a solar facility at Manah (MEES, 17 May 2013), but like Oman’s broader solar ambitions, progress has been slow. The sultanate’s first utility scale solar plant, the 500MW Ibri-2, is expected online next year (MEES, 2 August 2019). State oil giant PDO brought the 100MW Amin solar project online last month to power oil field operations (MEES, 5 June). (CONTINUED - 120 WORDS)