Oman Power and Water Procurement Company (OPWP) has floated four initial tenders for the development of two independent water projects, one each in Duqm and Khasab region of the sultanate, said a report.

These tenders are for the selection of consultants to conduct onshore and offshore studies of the seabed areas, as well as the quality of water and other aspects related to the potential site, according to Times of Oman.

The proposed Duqm independent project will have a water desalination capacity of 60,000 cu m per day, while the Khasab project will provide 16,000 to 20,000 cu m of water generation capacity, it stated.

These projects, which are expected to be completed by late 2019, are aimed at meeting the growing demand for water in the country’s different regions.

As far as the water grid is concerned, apart from the main interconnected system, the sultanate has four independent zones – Salalah, Duqm, Khasab and Sharqiya.

Also, requests for proposals for two independent water projects – Salalah and Sharqiya - have been floated by OPWP, which oversees the procurement of all new electricity generation and water desalination capacity in the country, said the report.

These two projects are expected to be ready by early 2019, it added.