The Oman Power and Water Procurement Company (OPWP) is accepting bids from project management consultants for its Manah 1 and Manah 2 solar plants, Trade Arabia reports. Construction of the plants — set to contribute 500 MW each to the national grid — will begin in 3Q 2023 and commercial operations will be completed by the middle of 2025 after the Authority for Public Services grants its approval.

Background: The OPWP secured a USD 458 mn investment from Korea Western Power and French EDF Renewables to co-develop the Manah 1 plant under a build-own-operate model in March. It also selected a JV made up of Singapore’s Sembcorp Utilities and China’s Jinko Power to develop the Manah 2 solar plant. The combined cost of Manah 1 and Manah 2 will amount to over OMR 300 mn (c. USD 780 mn).

ALSO- The Omani Environment Authority yesterday passed legislation requiring waste management companies to have licenses for the transport and import of waste, the Times of Oman reports. The new regulation aims to crack down on illegal dumping and support waste management activities in the sultanate, stipulating all waste imported into the country must be directly moved to recycling facilities.