The 190,000 m3/day Al Ghubrah Independent Water Project (IWP) in Muscat, Oman has been awarded to a consortium of Japan’s Sumitomo Corporation, in conjunction with Malaysia’s Malakoff Corporation Berhad and Spanish firm Cadagua SA.
Under a build-own-operate (BOO) project, the constructed facilities will be operated and maintained over a 20-year period, with operation slated to commence in September 2014.
The project is expected to cost up to approximately US$377.8 million in total. Sumitomo Corporation and Malakoff will respectively invest in 45% of the shares of the project company as major shareholders. The two companies will also establish an operation and maintenance (O&M) company for active involvement in the contract.
Oman's daily water demand currently amounts to about 700,000 m3 and is expected to continue growing by 2-3% per year. Demand is notably increasing in the metropolitan area centered on Muscat, and the Government of Oman is planning to launch multiple IWPs to address the situation.