Muscat: To enhance the reliability, safety, and sustainability of the electricity transmission network, and to ensure its stability and performance efficiency, the Oman Electricity Transmission Company (OETC) has confirmed its readiness for the summer of 2024 across all governorates of the Sultanate of Oman.
This includes preparedness at the load dispatch centre in Muscat and the control centres in Dhofar and Musandam. The company is committed to meeting the increasing electricity demands in the Sultanate. It is anticipated that electrical loads will rise by 7 per cent compared to last year, driven by the integration of new areas into the main grid, such as Duqm, Mahout, and Saih Al Khairat, along with a significant increase in various industrial loads.
OETC has collaborated closely with Nama Power and Water Procurement Company (NPWP) to guarantee ample generation availability during the summer period.
The company has conducted a series of mock drills, technical workshops, and training programmes involving all technical teams to ensure their preparedness for anticipated challenges and to ensure the completion of all asset maintenance programmes, thus ensuring readiness for the summer peak.
The company has completed and energized several projects aimed at supporting the safe and reliable operation of the network during the summer. These projects are the Jefnain 400/132 kV Grid Station, part of the Rustaq 400/132 kV Grid Station and the Jawabi 132/33 kV Grid Station.
Eng. Sultan Al Rawahi, General Manager of the Load Dispatch Center at the OETC, reaffirmed the company's commitment to enhancing the quality, safety, and reliability of the electricity transmission network. He underscored the ongoing efforts to deliver high-quality and dependable services to the community and all developmental sectors in the Sultanate of Oman.
The company maintains regular communication through workshops and meetings with various licensed distribution and supply companies to address the key challenges anticipated during the summer season. These engagements aim to identify suitable solutions and ensure effective coordination in load transfer for new projects. Moreover, the company emphasizes the preparedness of emergency teams to promptly address any unforeseen emergencies that may arise.
Al Rawahi added, "OETC is keen to enhance the efficiency of the electricity transmission network and train employees, technical teams, and all related parties to ensure the smooth flow of work according to plans and for optimal response to the significant growth in the sector. The company organizes many training campaigns to simulate power outages, technical workshops, and field visits in cooperation with all relevant parties in the sector, aiming to enhance the readiness of all teams to deal with any emergency and ensure a quick response to restore services efficiently, safely, and professionally."
It is worth mentioning that OETC, a member of the Nama Group is the only company responsible for the transmission and control of electricity in the Sultanate’s network, where electricity is transferred from generation stations to distributed load centres in all governorates of the Sultanate, and the transmission network operates at a voltage of 132 kV and above, to cover most of the governorates of the Sultanate, whether in the north or the south. In addition, OETC manages the interconnection lines between the Sultanate and the Gulf interconnection network with a voltage of 220 kV.