Oman’s Public Authority for Electricity and Water (PAEW) has floated tenders for a pair of small water desalination plants (typically with a capacity of 1,000 to 10,000 cu m/day) to be implemented for the first time on a build-own-operate (BOO) basis.

PAEW - also known as ‘Diam’ - follows a new project delivery model adopted by the authority in 2015 that advocates a role for private investors in the development of small water schemes in isolated parts of the country, reported Oman Observer.

This is in contrast to the PAEW’s longstanding practice of procuring water desalination capacity outside of the grid-connected zones based on an engineering, procurement and construction (EPC) basis, said the report.

These mini desalination plants are being planned at Mahout Wilayat (Wusta Governorate) and Musandam Governorate. Offers are due in by October 16 for either of these two projects, it stated.

PAEW currently owns 40 small desalination plants offering a total production capacity of around 45,000 cu m/day.

These are distributed around the rural parts of eight governorates notably Muscat Al Dakhiliyah, North and South Al Sharqiyah, Al Dhahirah, Musandam, Al Wusta and North Al Batinah, it added.