The Authority for Public Services Regulation (APSR) has granted its approval to Oman Power and Water Procurement Company (OPWP) to award “Manah 1 and Manah 2” solar energy projects to international investors. The project will be located in the Wilayat of Manah in the Governorate of A’Dakhiliyah.

The two stations represent the second projects to be floated by OPWP to contract the purchase of capacity generated by renewable energy. The two plants will produce (1000) megawatts, with (500) megawatts for each.

The two stations’ project will contribute to the expansion of electricity generation in the Sultanate of Oman through alternative energy sources, and the implementation of its national strategy to reach net zero carbon emissions by 2050.

The electricity generated by “Manah 1 and Manah 2” projects will account for 6.6 percent of the total electrical energy in the Sultanate of Oman by 2025, and Oman Vision 2040 aims to achieve 30 percent by 2030.

Such projects hoped to contribute to the transfer of expertise to Omani youth, and strengthen the local market through the requirements followed in the local added value.

The total cost of the two projects will hit more than RO 300 million. The projects will be built on an area of 15 million square meters. It is expected that about 2.082 million solar panels will be installed in the two stations, which will be the largest solar panel project in the Sultanate of Oman.

It is expected that the construction works of the two stations will start in the third quarter of 2023, and that the commercial operation will be completed in the middle of 2025.