Muscat: Engineer Yousef bin Ibrahim Al Balushi, Senior Director of Projects Department at Majan Electricity Company, said that the company provides energy with the highest international standards. The company provides the required energy without any interruption or effects of loads, even with the advent of summer and increase in consumption and loads.
The company's readiness and its projects always made it maintain this distinguished level of providing exemplary service with international standard specifications and high-quality indicators of the services provided.
Al Balushi explained that the company has an annual project plan, and it works to implement this plan, which is approved through the capital projects plan, to achieve the company’s goals and obligations towards subscribers and the requirements of the license granted to it by the Public Services Regulatory Authority. Al Balushi added that the company has implemented and launched several projects during this year, the most important of which are:
Enlargement of Al-Multaqa sub-station from 2*20 MVA by extending an electrical feeder for a voltage of 33 kV in North Al Batinah Governorate, to keep pace with the growing growth in the Wilayat of Sohar, strengthen networks and ensure energy continuity.
Also, the Sur Al-Abri sub-station, with a capacity of 2*20 MVA, extending an electrical feeder range for a voltage of 33 kV, was established in the North Al Batinah Governorate, to provide the required energy and strengthen the network to keep pace with urban growth in the new plans in the Wilayat of Shinas.
The electrical transformer with a capacity of 3 MVA was replaced with the Al-Hilshi sub-station and the electrical capacitor with a capacity of 3 MVA was replaced with the Wadi Ahin sub-station in North Al Batinah Governorate to raise the efficiency of the network, avoid interruptions and provide additional capacity for the mountainous areas in the wilayats of North Al Batinah Governorate.
Al Balushi added that the Al Fulaij sub-station has been enlarged from 2*6 MVA to 2*20 MVA, with a voltage feeder of 33 MVA in North Al Batinah Governorate to keep pace with the growing growth in the region, strengthen networks and ensure energy continuity in the Wilayat of Saham. He stressed that the cost of the launched projects exceeded six million Omani Rials.
Projects to strengthen existing networks and protection systems
When asked about other projects undertaken by the company, the Senior Director of the Projects Department at Majan Electricity Company said: “In addition to network construction and extension projects, the Company strengthens existing networks and raises the level of protection by using the latest technologies and keeping pace with continuous updating and specialised studies. The company has implemented a number of projects, including:
A project to improve the protection system for the Majan electricity network in the governorates of North Al Batinah, Al Buraimi and Al Dahirah, in order to ensure the efficiency of the network and reduce interruptions.
The protection system and the automatic transmission system were also installed for Majan Electricity Company's sub-stations in the governorates of North Al Batinah, Al Buraimi and Al Dahirah, to ensure network efficiency and reduce interruptions through automatic response to any network malfunctions or accidents.
Projects under construction
As for the projects that are still under construction and when they are expected to be completed during the current year, Al Balushi said: Some projects are still under construction, including:
- Construction of Al-Subaikhi sub-station 2*6 MVA with the connection of 33 KV voltage feeders (Al Dhahirah Governorate) in order to keep pace with the increasing growth and avoid interruptions and provide additional capacity for the area.
- Construction of the 33 KV line from Yanqul (Al Jadeeda) main station to Al Wuqabah sub-station in Al Dhahirah Governorate, and strengthening of the 33 KV network for Al-Waqba and Al-Shuwayya stations to ensure the continuity of the electric current.
- Enlargement of Al-Ghurayfa sub-station from 2*20 MVA to 3*20 MVA in Shinas in North Al Batinah Governorate to keep pace with the increasing growth in the area that represents the centre of the Wilayat of Shinas.
- Enlargement of the Fazah sub-station from 3*6 MVA to 2*20 MVA, connecting 33 KV voltage feeders from the main Shinas station in North Al Batinah Governorate, in order to keep pace with the increasing growth and provide major subscribers with the required energy in the Wilayat of Liwa which is characterized with investments in mining and quarrying sector.
- Enlargement and reconstruction of Sohar Industrial Area-2 sub-station from 2*20 MVA to 3*20 MVA with the construction of a 33 kV voltage feeder from Liwa-2 main station (North Al Batinah Governorate) and supplying major subscribers in Sohar industrial area with the required power to support the infrastructure and services in one of the largest investment areas in the Company’s concession areas.
He added: In addition, it is expected that the project of equipping the new network control centre will soon be completed and that the current system will be replaced by another system that keeps pace with the latest systems used in the field of network control, in order to raise the reliability of the network and monitor its performance, in addition to achieving the highest levels of security and cybersecurity. He stressed that the expected total cost of these projects exceeds seven million Omani Rials.
Upcoming projects
Al Balushi said: The company has a group of projects that are in the final design stage before being floated in tenders. It is expected that these projects will be offered for competition by approved and licensed companies in the field of electrical network construction during the third and fourth quarters of this year to achieve the required readiness in the coming years, keeping pace with the growing demand for electric energy in light of urban growth and stimulating investment.
Health, security and safety
When asked what the company does within the framework of its keenness on health and safety when implementing such projects and the company’s business in general, Al Balushi said: The company operates through approved policies in health, security, safety and environment, through which contractors are involved and continuous support and awareness are provided to ensure their understanding and application by all workers in these projects to ensure the achievement of their objectives. The work teams showed a high commitment to these policies and requirements, which helped in achieving 715 working days without any injuries or interruptions from work.
The Project Department is always committed to achieving the highest levels of quality by adhering to quality requirements. The company holds the 55001 quality certificate and applies the approved Project Department manual and the latest management methods in this field.
Rationalisation
The company attaches great importance to rationalisation. The various departments of the Company, through available channels and means, continuously educate the public about the methods and mechanisms of rationalisation. This would benefit the subscribers and the environment through many initiatives adopted by the Company and the management of Nama Group, as the company is one of the group's subsidiaries.