The Ibri Solar Project, a 500 megawatt utility worth $401 million, the largest renewable energy facility of its kind in Oman, was opened at a ceremony held in the Wilayat of Ibri, Governorate of A’Dhahirah, under the patronage of Mr. Sayyid Hamoud bin Faisal Al Busaidi, the Minister of Interior.
The utility is one of Oman Vision 2040’s major projects aimed at maximizing existing investment opportunities and conserving natural resources. The largest and newest solar power plants in Oman are capable of providing clean electricity, marking a significant step in the country’s efforts to transition to renewable and sustainable energy sources.
The project constitutes a partnership between the public and private sectors and is led by Oman Power and Water Procurement Company (OPWP), an arm of Nama Group, through contracts with a group of GCC investment firms led by Acwa Power, Gulf Investment Corporation (GIC) and the Alternative Energy Projects Company (AEPC) to set up, own and operate the plant.
The solar project covers an area of 13 million sq m, of which 1.5 million was accorded to the double-sided solar panel, which uses more than 7,000 sq m of cables. Mr. Mohammed Abunayyan, Chairman of Acwa Power, stated that the project will reach its peak productivity by generating enough electricity to power 50,000 houses while also reducing CO2 emissions by 340,000 tons per year.
The project seeks to achieve four objectives in terms of environmental sustainability and natural resources, such as achieving a balance between environmental, economic, and social requirements and applying sustainable development policies, a green and circular economy that responds to national needs and is in line with global trends, sustainable use of natural resources and wealth and investing them in a way that achieves high added value, and using renewable energy sources, investing in multiple sources of electricity, and rationalization of consumption to achieve energy security.
