Oman set for 120MW dual-fuel power plant operations

The dual-fuel power plant in Musandam was built and will be operated by Wartsila Muscat [representational image].

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A 120 megawatt (MW) dual-fuel power plant in Oman's Bukha wilayat has reached its commercial operations date (COD), following construction completion. 

Wartsila Muscat constructed and will operate the facility.

Musandam Power Company's (MPC) plant will use natural gas as primary fuel, with light fuel oil set as a back-up to ensure continued power production. 

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MPC is an affiliated company of Oman Gas Company (OGC).

Salim bin Marhoon al-Hashmi, director of MPC, said the plant can operate "in extreme conditions, including high humidity and temperatures of up to 50°C".

He added: "The power plant comprises 15 Wartsila dual-fuel 34DF engines, allowing for ultra-flexible operations, such as responding to load variations between 10MW and 120MW.

"The plant will run in island mode on the isolated Musandam grid, making reliability a key feature."

Electricity output from the plant will be sent to an existing medium voltage grid through a 132 kilovolt (kV) transmission line being built by the Rural Areas Electricity Company (RAEC).

Power was first exported to the grid this April, state agency ONA reported.

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Through a power purchase agreement (PPA), Oman Power and Water Procurement Co (OPWP) will purchase electric power produced from the plant for 15 years. 

Remarking on the project's COD milestone, Sultan bin Hamad al-Burtmani, acting executive managing director of OGC, said: "MPC is the first Omani power project lead developed by an Omani developer, and in doing so, represents an important step for OGC’s power strategy."