Oman Power and Water Procurement Company (OPWP) has released a request for qualification (RFQ) for two independent power plants (IPP) in Manah of 600MW, with the contracts set to be awarded in Q3 2020, and project operations due by Q4 2022. The last date for companies to buy RFQ documents from OPWP’s offices is 29 July, 2019. OPWP that tenders for Manah Solar 1 and 2 follow the successful bidding round of its first utility scale solar IPP, Ibri 2 Solar Project.

A contract for Ibri 2 was awarded in April 2019, with operations anticipated to begin in June 2021. OPWP, the Manah Solar projects will be built, owned, and operated by the sultanate’s private sector, with the scope of the contracts including financing, engineering, procurement, and construction, operation, and maintenance.

Manah Solar 1 and 2 will be located adjacent to each other at a site approximately 150km from Muscat. The projects support Oman’s initiative to encourage the use of renewable energy to meet its increasing demand for electricity.