The Sultanate of Oman is building the largest solar power plant in the world

2015-07-09 2015-07-09T10:46:42Z

ArabiaWeather.com – Yesterday, it was announced in the Omani capital, Muscat, that a contract had been signed to build the largest solar power plant in the world, “Mirror”, between Petroleum Development Oman and GlassPoint Solar Company. It will be based in the south of the country and will have a capacity of about 1021 megawatts.

The plant will harness sunlight to produce steam that will be used in thermal enhanced oil recovery and the viscous heavy oil in the Amal field.

Steam generation is expected to start in 2017, with the costs of the project to be borne by the Petroleum Development Oman Company, while GlassPoint Solar will provide the technology.

Mohammed bin Hamad Al-Ramahi, Minister of Oil and Gas and Chairman of the Board of Directors of PDO, explained that the cost of the project compared to the advantage of providing gas is highly feasible because it achieves three main objectives that start with increasing the amount of heavy oil and providing gas in which Muscat faces a clear deficit and shortage, as well as About the feasibility of the project and the establishment of a center for this technology in the Sultanate.

Al-Ramahi said, "This center is the largest for this technology in the world, and this project will create opportunities for many establishments and companies."

He added that it will enhance access to job opportunities, and this technology can be used in other fields, including electricity generation, water desalination, and scientific research opportunities.

The Oman News Agency said that upon completion of the project, it will provide about 5.6 trillion thermal units of gas annually, and the unconsumed gas in the field can be diverted to export, to generate electricity, or to expand new industries.

The diversification of the economy and the gas that will be provided is enough to provide electricity for the residential sector for more than 209 thousand people in the Sultanate.

The project will also prevent the emission of more than 300,000 tons of carbon dioxide annually and reduce its entry into the atmosphere.