Musandam power project to start operation by early 2017

Muscat: Musandam Power Company’s (MPC) gas-fired 120 megawatt power project, which is first such plant in Musandam, will start commercial operation by early 2017, the company said.
Construction of the Musandam Independent Power Project is currently in its final stages, with a team from Oman Oil Facilities Development Company, one of the main verticals of Oman Oil Company responsible for executing power sector infrastructure and related facilities, visited the site recently.
The team reviewed preparations for a planned trial run of the plant. They also met the newly enrolled operators and reviewed efforts to suitably prepare them for the operational phase. The company welcomed the first batch of the Omani power plant operators at its Tibat facilities in Wilayat Bukha, Musandam Governorate.
The batch, part of a team of well-qualified Omanis recruited to operate the plant, will be put through an intensive training programme in the weeks and months leading up to commercial launch in the first half of 2017.
Commenting on the significance of the Musandam IPP, Sultan Al Burtmani, acting executive managing director of Oman Oil Facilities Development Company, said: “In addition to serving as a vital and stable source of local electricity supply, MPC will be geared to meet the growing electricity demands of Musandam Governorate as it witnesses a new phase of development.”
“We are proud to receive the first batch of the Omani operators whom we count on to focus on acquiring the required technical knowledge and skills that will be delivered through a rigorous training programme conducted by the operating company,” added Al Burtmani.
Under an agreement concluded with MPC, Wärtsilä, a global leader in complete lifecycle power solutions, secured a contract to design, procure and manage the construction of the 120MW gas-fired power plant, as well as provide ongoing operation and maintenance for 5 years.
Wärtsilä is also obliged to carry out the training programme aimed at preparing Omanis for the management of the plant operation. It is anticipated that Omanisation percentage of the plant will reach 90 per cent in the next five years.
The six-month training programme formulated by Wärtsilä will cover on-the job training, enabling the newly appointed operators to take part in the commissioning phase of the plant in the coming months. Another training programme designed to develop engineers at a supervisory level will be conducted at Wärtsilä’s training centre in Turku, Finland. The supervisors will be selected according to their performance during this training period.
The dual fuel plant will use natural gas as the primary fuel, with light fuel oil as a back-up resource to ensure uninterrupted power production. Electricity output will be transmitted to the existing medium voltage grid through the new 132KV transmission lines being built by the Rural Areas Electricity Company. The project’s 120MW generation capacity will help meet demand growth in Musandam Governorate.
It is worth highlighting that Musandam IPP was set up in realisation of Oman Oil Company’s goal of adding value to Oman’s energy sector and thereby advancing the nation’s development.
Established in 2014, MPC is a joint venture between Oman Oil Company, the Government’s investment arm in the energy related sectors, holding a 70 per cent stake, and LG International, with the balance 30 per cent stake.