The first phase of Oman’s cross-country interconnector project is live: The sultanate’s national grid operator The Oman Electricity Transmission Company (OETC) has kicked off operations on an OMR 372 mn (c. USD 966.4 mn) interconnector project spanning 670 km from the north of the country to the south, Oman Daily Observer reports. The project — which will include five grid stations connected by overhead transmission lines — will prepare Oman for the transition to renewables, the news outlet reports.

The details: The new interconnector extends from the Al Dhahirah Governorate in the west of Oman to the Duqm Special Economic Zone in Al Wusta Governorate in the south with a total power capacity of 400 KV, the news outlet notes. The interconnector is set to pave the way for renewable energy distribution from planned solar and wind projects in the Al Wusta Governorate, and is the first phase of a project aiming to connect Oman’s two standalone grids and form a unified national network.

More to come: OETC is reportedly looking to launch the second phase of the North-South Interconnection Project — which will span 502 km and extend from Duqm to Dhofar — before year’s end. The project is also expected to have the same 400 KV transmission capacity, but the news outlet did not provide an expected price tag for phase two. According to a five-year annual transmission capability statement released last May, OETC has a dozen other transmission projects in the design phase, including 400 KV, 220 KV, and 132 KV grid stations.

All part of OETC’s renewables push: The majority state-owned firm plans to link as much as 2.6 GW of renewable energy to its transmission grid by 2027 through planned clean energy projects, the statement noted at the time. These include a 1 GW solar IPP project in Manah that will be completed in 2Q 2024 and go online in 2025, the 500 MW Ibri III Solar IPP to be connected to the transmission grid by 1Q 2026, and another 500 MW solar IPP proposed in the Al Kamil area by 2Q 2027. Oman’s fuel diversification policy aims to have 30% of generation output from renewable energy sources by 2030 and to reach 39% by 2040 under the country’s 2050 net-zero target.