RO 300m North-south Interconnect project tender likely before year-end

Nama Group member OETC, which owns and operates the North and South grids, is working very hard to have all of the key stakeholders fully on board in ensuring the smooth and timely delivery of this landmark project, said Al Haddabi.

“We hope, if all goes well, to float the first tender for the overhead line extending to Duqm before the end of this year,” the official said, pointing out that the 400KV system will run on transmission pylons. Implementation is planned over a five-year timeframe, he stated.

According to the Oman Power and Water Procurement Company (OPWP), also a Nama Group member, the Main Interconnected System (MIS) is presently connected with the PDO power system at Nizwa via a single 132 kv link with a nominal transfer capacity of around 60 MW.

“The main purpose of this interconnect is to support reserve sharing between the MIS and the PDO system. OPWP, OETC and PDO have agreed to build a new 400 KV transmission interconnect at Nahada, with secure transfer capacity in excess of 1000 MW. This will enable substantial coordination of operations and capacity planning, providing efficiency benefits to the Sultanate,” OPWP explained in its latest 7-Year Statement issued last week.

“Extension of the North-south 400 kv Interconnect to the Dhofar Power System (DPS) may also occur by 2024, subject to final regulatory approval, providing for greater grid security and improved utilisation of generation resources,” OPWP added.