Oman Water Report Q3 2011

Report Summary

BMI View: Oman is facing a sharp rise in demand for desalinated water. State-owned utility Oman Power & Water Procurement Company (OPWP) forecasts that demand will grow at an average of 8% annually, to reach 278mn cubic metres (m3) by 2017. This leaves little room for manoeuvre as OPWP attempts to boost capacity at its major independent water and power projects (IWPP) and independent water-only projects. In July 2011, the Salalah IWPP is due to start operations and the bidding process for the Al Ghubrah independent water project is also due to get underway. The Omani authorities have also promised to speed up studies into the Duqm IWPP - which could lead to significant new desalination capacity. Invitations to bid may be solicited before the end of 2011, though the project may yet be denuded of its water component. Nonetheless, BMI is confident that the Omani authorities remain in control of the process and will be in a position to meet demand over the next seven years.

Key themes to highlight for Oman’s water sector:

• In Q2 2011, OPWP, Oman’s state-owned water and electricity company, set out its demand forecasts for the next seven years. Its forecasts show that overall demand for potable and industrial water increasing from around 163mn m3 in 2010 to 278mn m3 in 2017 - an average growth rate of around 8% per year.
• An assessment of the demand/supply balance in the Ghubrah Zone indicates new desalination capacity is needed to cover rising demand and to compensate for the upcoming retirement of some older desalination units at the Ghubrah Power and Desalination Plant. In this context, state regulator the Public Authority for Electricity and Water (PAEW) has advised OPWP that it will need to install an additional 191,000 cubic metres per day (m3/d) of capacity by 2014. This is expected to be developed on a phased basis with an initial increase to 138,000 m3/d in 2013).
• Other regions will also need substantially more desalinated water over the next seven years. OPWP says the Barka Zone will see its requirement rising from 32,000 m3/d in 2014 to 96,000 m3/d by 2017. Sohar will also need new desalination capacity from 2015 onwards - with the requirement rising from 18,000 m3/d in 2015 to 64,000 m3/d by 2017. Duqm will see its requirement rise from 6,000 m3/d in 2013 to 15,000 m3/d by 2017. Only Sur has sufficient water to cover demand through to 2017, says OPWP.

The business climate in Oman remains favourable for foreign investors. Major developers of IWPPs including Suez Energy, International Power, AES, and Omani and Gulf Co-operation Council (GCC) investors, have all been attracted to the country’s open, transparent and investor-friendly business environment.