Mitsui-led consortium to build two gas-fired combined cycle plants in Oman

Mitsui and its consortium partners recently received a $2.3bn order from Oman Power and Water Procurement Company (OPWP) to build two independent gas-fired combined cycle power plants, which will have a combined generation capacity of 3.15GW.

Under the contract, Mitsui-led consortium including ACWA Power and Dhofar International Development and Investment (DIDIC) will build the 1,450MW Ibri and the 1,700MW Sohar-3 power generation projects in northern Oman.

The Sohar-3 and Ibri power plants are planned to be commissioned in January 2019 and April 2019 respectively. Power generated from the facilities will be sold to OPWP under a 15-year power purchase agreement. Upon completion, the power plants are expected to supply approximately 30% of the electricity needs in the Muscat area.

In 2015, Mitsui received contracts for the development of the Salalah-2 power project as well as the Liwa Plastic Industries Complex project. Mitsui, which owns 50.1% interest in the consortium, will operate both plants. ACWA Power will own 44.9% stake in the consortium while the remaining 5% stake is held by DIDIC.