Oman government is set to award a consultancy services contract for the development of a RO1.1-billion ($2.84 billion) wastewater project which will cover all the governorates of the sultanate, said a report.

The project is being developed by state-owned Oman Wastewater Services Company (Haya Water) whose original remit as the water reuse utility of Muscat governorate has been expanded to cover wastewater collection and treatment, as well as treated effluent distribution, across the sultanate, with the exception of Dhofar Governorate, reported Oman Observer.

Several leading local and international consultancy firms are in the race for the big wastewater project, said the report.

The selected consultant will be required to develop a detailed masterplan, complete with a capital investment programme, covering a 25-year horizon.

Inputs for formulating this blueprint will be based on population forecasts, water demand and wastewater generation estimates, connection and coverage forecasts, treated effluent production, sludge generation, and various strategic master-plans of the government, it stated.

Additionally, the consultant shall review reports and strategies of various ministries, notably the Ministry of Tourism, Public Authority for Electricity and Water (PAEW), and the Supreme Council for Planning.

Last year, Haya Water had declared that it was progressively taking over the estimated 58 sewage treatment plants (STPs) and 820 km of sewerage networks currently in operation in the various governorates of the sultanate, it added.