The state-owned Oman Power and Water Procurement Company (OPWP) has announced that it has launched the Request for Proposal (RFP) for the development of a new seawater desalination project in Quriyat, south of Muscat.

Seven firms/teams were shortlisted:

• GS Inima,
• Tedagua,
• A consortium led by Hyflux,
• A consortium led by Sumitomo,
• A consortium led by Valoriza (Sacyr),
• A consortium led by Itochu and
• A consortium led by Abengoa.

The Request for Qualification (RFQ), which was issued on September 4th, 2013, attracted significant interest from potential bidders with 12 applicants submitting their statement of qualifications.

The project involves the design, construction, ownership, financing, operation and maintenance of a high- efficiency desalination facility with 200,000 cubic metres per day (44 MIGD) of potable water output, to enter into commercial operation in March, 2017.

The project will be structured as an independent water project (IWP) with OPWP purchasing the potable water produced by the project under a water purchase agreement with a term of 20 years.

Ahmed Al Jahdhami, chief executive officer of OPWP, stated:

The project will be the first IWP to be tendered following the amendment to the sector law under which subjects independent water project companies to regulation by the Authority for Electricity Regulation.

According to OPWP, the project is among others being rolled out by the company to increase the overall capacity of desalinated water in Oman under contract to OPWP from the current output of 670,000 cubic metres per day to 1,300,000 cubic metres per day by 2020.