Oman Power and Water Procurement Company (OPWP) is likely to soon appoint consultants to provide advisory services covering the financial, commercial, technical and legal aspects of developing the sultanate’s first coal-fired independent power project (IPP), said a report.

The proposed venture is set to be executed on a build-own-operate (BOO) basis, similar to how conventional natural gas-based power schemes are currently implemented, reported Oman Observer.

While preliminary plans drawn up by OPWP call for the establishment of a coal-fired plant with a capacity range of 1,500 to 2,500 MW, the actual size of the proposed project still remains to be decided.

The final capacity will be determined based on the recommendations of the advisory services team, subject to a final decision by the government to embark on coal based power generation.

Also as part of their remit, the selected consultants will study and recommend suitable locations for setting up the country's ambitious project.

Duqm is widely tipped to host the project, given the presence of the requisite logistical and environmental underpinnings necessary to support coal based power generation, said the report.

However, in choosing potential sites, the consultants will also need to keep in mind the cost and availability of support infrastructure, and access to the existing grid, it added.