Oman plans to implement a number of solar and wind-based electricity projects by 2025, which will yield between 2,500 and 3,000 MW of power capacity, a top official of Oman Power and Water Procurement Company (OPWP) said.

“The Financial Affairs and Energy Resources Council has obligated OPWP to ensure that a minimum 10 per cent of energy production comes from renewable resources by 2025. Our aim is to exceed that target with commitments for at least two projects by 2019, with huge renewables based capacity being established definitely by 2025,” Yaqoob Saif Hamood al Kiyumi, CEO of OPWP was quoted as saying in an Oman Observer report.

All of the projects — based predominantly on solar photovoltaic (PV) systems but also on wind energy — will be large-scale developments of capacities estimated in hundreds of megawatts, said Al Kiyumi.

Land for future solar projects, which typically require large tracts of open space, has been allocated in the wilayats of Ibri, Manah and Adam, while the wind energy projects are expected to be implemented in the Dhofar and Wusta governorates, where wind resources are optimal, the report said.

The proposed North-South Interconnection project is also being planned to link the Main Interconnected Grid (MIS) serving the northern half of Oman, with the Dhofar System, al Kiyumi added.