Qurayyat water project to start operation in fourth quarter of 2017

Muscat: A 44 million imperial gallons per day (MIGD)-capacity desalination project in Qurayyat will start operation in the fourth quarter of this year.
The OMR100 million-Qurayyat Desalination Project, which is using reverse osmosis technology, was awarded to a consortium comprising Singapore’s Hyflux and National Power and Water Company in 2014. The company was expecting to start potable water production in May 2017. Qurayyat plant’s capacity is equivalent to 17 per cent of Oman’s peak water demand.
Similarly, another major desalination unit that will start operation in the second quarter of 2018 is the $300 million-Barka IV independent water project, which is owned by the Barka Desalination Company, according to a seven-year outlook for power and water demand released by the Oman Power and Water Procurement Company (OPWP).
The water project has an installed capacity of 62 MIGD. Barka Desalination Company is jointly owned by ITOCHU Corporation, Suez, Engie and W J Towell.
Also, Sohar III Desalination Plant, awarded in November 2015 to Myah Gulf Desalination Company, has a contracted capacity of 55 MIGD of water using reverse osmosis technology, with scheduled commercial operation to begin in the third quarter of 2018.
These three major water desalination plants, which are in different stages of construction within the interconnected zone, will have a combined capacity of 161 MIGD (equivalent to 731,000 cubic meters per day).
Annual average water demand in the northern region is projected to increase by 7 per cent over the next seven years (until 2023) and the new projects will be able to meet growing demand for potable water. Demand for water in the country is mainly driven by population growth and tourism projects. The Sultanate’s population touched 4.57 million by the end of June, 2017. With several hotels under different stages of planning and construction, the demand for water from the hospitality sector is expected to grow.
Also, the expansion plan for water desalination capacity aims to meet peak demand, as well as a 14.3 per cent margin for supply security.
In 2018, supply is expected to be adequate to meet peak demand under high case and low case scenarios, due to a net increase in capacity—the Barka IV and Sohar III IWPs are scheduled to be completed, the Barka IWPP reverse osmosis units are planned to be extended, while the Ghubrah IWPP is scheduled to retire, the OPWP report added.