Six leading consortiums have prequalified to submit bids for an independent water project (IWP) in Oman, with a desalination capacity of 16,000 cu m per day, said a report.

These include the Acwa Emirates-Sogex Oman consortium, Utico, the Seven Seas-Aqua Venture Holdings consortium, Veolia Middle East, GS Inima and Tedagua, reported Times of Oman.

The prequalification comes after Oman Power and Water Procurement Company (OPWP) floated a request for a qualification tender for developing the desalination project.

The winning company will develop it as a private sector project, in close co-ordination with OPWP, stated the report.

The Khasab project, which is expected to be completed by late 2019, will cater to the growing demand for water in the Musandam governorate.

Besides this project, Oman is also developing independent water projects in Salalah, Shaqiyah and Duqm, which will another 52.8 million gallons per day (mgpd) of new capacity, it added.