Early tenders f loated for two major water projects
Both Salalah and Sharqiya independent water projects are expected to go on stream within four years, which will help meet the growing demand for water in the Sultanate
MUSCAT: Oman Power and Water Procurement Company has floated a tender inviting bids from consultancy firms for conducting a study to identify the best seawater intake and outfall location to build Salalah and Sharqiya independent water projects.
Both desalination projects will be built by two private developers that win the concession from state-owned Oman Power and Water Procurement Company (OPWP).
According to earlier reports, the Salalah desalination project will have a capacity to produce 20 million imperial gallons water per day, while the capacity of Sharqiyah project is yet to be decided. Both the projects, which are expected to go on stream within four years, will meet the growing demand for water. stantially enhancing availability of potable water in the country’s southern and northern regions.
OPWA earlier floated another tender linked to the development of Salalah and Sahqiya independent water projects.
As many as 22 consultancy firms have submitted their bids in response to this tender, which was for selecting conducting topographic survey, geotechnical investigation and bathymetric and environmental survey for identifying suitable locations for these two water projects. son for the growth in demand for potable water.
Similarly, in northern region, demand for water will grow by six per cent per annum in the next five-year horizon, from 238 million cubic metres in 2013 to 349 million cubic metres in 2020. This compares to the previous seven-year forecasts in which average annual growth was in the range of three to five per cent, according to a seven-year outlook for power and water demand released by OPWP last year. The northern region is mainly divided into an interconnected zone and Sur zone. The interconnected zone includes Muscat, Al Batinah North, Al Batinah South and Buraimi in addition to Al Dhakhiliyah, Al Dhabirah and Sohar Industrial area. Al Sharqiyah North, Al Sharqiyah South and Masirah are also in the zone.