Oman Selects 3 Final Bids For 500 MW Tender

• OPWP has selected three consortiums for its 500 MW Ibri II Solar IPP tender
• Masdar, Total Solar and Jinko Power make up the first consortium; ACWA Power, GIC and AEPC second consortium, and Marubeni, OGC, Nebras Power and Bahwan Renewable Energy form the third consortium
• OPWP is expected to deliver its verdict with the selection of final winner by early 2019

The Oman Power and Water Procurement Company SAOC (OPWP) has revealed 3 finalists for the Middle Eastern country's first large scale solar PV power project with 500 MW capacity, but hasn't shared the winning tariffs. These 3 have made the cut out of 11 contenders pre-qualified by the agency in April 2018 (see Oman Shortlists 12 Bidders In 500 MW Tender).

There were 5 consortiums and 6 individual entities in the pre-qualifying round, of which OPWP has selected 3 consortiums. These are:

• Abu Dhabi Future Energy Company PJSC (Masdar), Total Solar and Jinko Power (HK) Company Limited
• International Company for Water and Power Projects (ACWA Power), Gulf Investment Corporation (GIC) and Alternative Energy Projects Company (AEPC)
• Marubeni Corporation, Oman Gas Company SAOC (OGC), Nebras Power QPSC, and Bahwan Renewable Energy Company LLC

A consortium led by Marubeni, with the inclusion of Moden Channels Services LLC, won a 100 MW solar power project from Petroleum Development Oman (PDO) in October 2018. PDO said this is the country's first solar IPP project (see Marubeni Consortium Wins 100 MW Oman Tender).

All three finalists responded to OPWP's request for proposals (RFP) for the development of Ibri II Solar IPP, which is scheduled to start operations by June 2021. The agency is now evaluating the bids and expects to announce the results in early 2019.

"The Bids received reflect the continued interest and trust in the Oman power sector which sets fairness, transparency and economic purchase as key pillars of its structure and framework," said the agency.