Oman’s Amin solar plant starts up

MUSCAT, June 9, 2020 – Oman’s 100-MW Amin PV solar plant has begun commercial operations, achieving commissioning three months ahead of schedule.

The project began supplying power for PDO’s interior operations on May 31, the company said. It is among the world’s first utility-scale solar projects to have an oil and gas company as the sole buyer.

Amin Renewable Energy Company developed the IPP project after winning the contract from PDO in January 2019. The Bank Muscat-financed special purpose company was formed by the Marubeni Corporation, Oman Gas Company, Oman’s Bahwan Renewable Energy Company and Qatar’s Nebras Power.

The Amin project’s commissioning marks a key step in Oman’s pursuit of a 30% share for renewables in its energy mix by 2030. It is not PDO’s first engagement with renewables, as the company is developing the more than 1-GW Miraah solar EOR mega-project to generate steam for its Amal heavy oil operations.

“Solar intensity in Oman provides an attractive platform to enable a lower carbon and more sustainable future and this flagship project is another building block in support of PDO’s continued transition to a fully-fledged energy company,” PDO managing director Raoul Restucci said. “The Amin power plant represents an excellent example of Oman’s outstanding potential in renewable energy.”

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