Petroleum Development Oman (PDO) and Nama Group, both Omani
entities, signed a memorandum of understanding (MoU) his week with two Nama
members to facilitate a more efficient countrywide power infrastructure.
Oman Electricity Transmission Company (OETC)
and Oman Power and Water Procurement (OPWP) co-signed the agreement at
the start of a three-day Oman Energy & Water Exhibition and Conference at
the Oman International Exhibition Centre at Seeb, enabling what are now four
distinct electricity suppliers to eventually unite through a 400 kilovolt power
transmission hub.
Consequently, the existing four providers — the Main
Integrated System in the north, the Dhofar System in the south, the Duqm System
in the east and PDO in central Oman — will be able to share reserves,
coordinate the power supply and streamline planning, with the additional
advantage of reduction in the amount of fuel required to power Oman’s
facilities.
“This agreement will establish a framework for a more
efficient and coordinated national electricity grid by integrating the
existing networks,” PDO Managing Director Raoul Restucci said. “PDO and
our partners will be able to work together more effectively in ensuring the
stability and security of the day-to-day running of the system and also during
emergencies.”
The MoU also provides for a technical support center through
which PDO, OPWP and OETC can communicate and collaborate on day-to-day
operations.
“If one part of the country needs more electricity, this
makes it easier to transmit it from another part where there is less demand,” Restucci said. “The new setup will also mean we can reduce the
consumption of vital gas for power generation which can be diverted for
industrial, commercial and residential uses.”
PDO provides approximately 70 percent of Oman’s crude oil
and almost all of its natural gas.
“This MoU will provide the opportunity for studying the
possibility of interconnecting the unified transmission grid which is owned by
Oman Electricity Transmission Company … connecting it with PDO grids, and …
extending high voltage lines to the south of the sultanate in Salalah,” OETC CEO Ali Al Hadabi said..
