A new study will help ascertain the feasibility of coal as a fuel resource for power generation in Oman, a report said.

State-run Oman Power and Water Procurement Company (OPWP) has invited international consultants to bid for its contract to provide Financial & Commercial Advisory Services linked to the potential development of a coal-based Independent Power Project (IPP), the Oman Observer report said.

Interested parties have until today (April 17) to purchase tender documents for the consultancy contract, with the deadline for submission of bids slated for May 7, it added.

“There isn’t a policy decision taken so far in this regard, but this Request for Proposals is part of our normal work to prepare ourselves for any potential diversification of energy sources in Oman. So (a coal-based IPP) is not a confirmed project yet; what we are looking at is a feasibility study to prepare ourselves for diversification of energy sources,” Yaqoob bin Saif al Kiyumi, acting CEO of OPWP was quoted as saying in the report.