Consultant Sought for Marsa LNG Solar Power Project in Oman: What This Means for Investors and Business Growth
Muscat: In alignment with the development of the Marsa LNG bunkering facility at SOHAR Port and Freezone, Omani authorities are advancing preparations for the procurement of a Solar Independent Power Project (IPP) to support the facility’s decarbonisation efforts.
The proposed Marsa Solar IPP is expected to have a generation capacity of approximately 280 MW. It will be strategically located in a solar-abundant area within Al Dakhiliyah Governorate, close to transmission infrastructure managed by Oman Electricity Transmission Company (OETC).
Recently, Nama Power and Water Procurement Company (PWP)—Oman’s sole buyer of all electricity and water output—invited qualified consultancy firms to submit bids for project management and supervisory consultancy services related to the Marsa Solar IPP. Final proposals are due by July 26. The successful firm will oversee project execution through construction, commissioning, and testing phases.
The Marsa Solar IPP is scheduled to become operational by the first half of 2028, coinciding with the completion of the 1 million tonnes per annum (mtpa) Marsa LNG bunkering project.
The Marsa LNG facility is being developed by a consortium comprising TotalEnergies (80%) and OQ Exploration & Production (OQEP) (20%). This project marks the Middle East’s first LNG-based bunkering facility, with an estimated investment of approximately $1.6 billion.
The solar IPP will be developed under a separate partnership between TotalEnergies and OQ Alternative Energy (OQAE), Oman’s national renewable energy champion. This partnership already manages renewable projects totaling around 300 MW, contracted to Petroleum Development Oman (PDO) under long-term Power Purchase Agreements, including the North Solar project (100 MW) in Saih Nihayda, and the Riyah 1 and Riyah 2 wind projects (each 100 MW) in southern Oman.
According to TotalEnergies, Marsa LNG will consume about 44% of the Marsa Solar IPP’s daytime energy output through power wheeling arrangements with OETC, using its grid network for electricity transmission. Nighttime power demands will be met via the same dedicated connection from the OETC grid. Since the solar plant is expected to cover the LNG facility’s full daytime energy needs, the remaining 56% of daytime generation will be exported to Oman’s spot market.
Powered entirely by clean energy, Marsa LNG is projected to be among the world’s lowest greenhouse gas emission intensity LNG plants, with emissions below 3 kg CO₂e/boe—significantly lower than the global average of approximately 35 kg CO₂e/boe.
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The Marsa Solar IPP project signifies a strategic shift towards sustainable energy integration in Oman’s LNG sector, positioning the country as a regional leader in low-carbon petrochemical infrastructure. For businesses, this creates new opportunities in renewable energy development and grid infrastructure expansion, while smart investors should consider early involvement in green energy projects and power purchase agreements, capitalizing on the government’s decarbonization momentum.
