Masdar to develop Oman first wind farm

Abu Dhabi Future Energy Company (Masdar) has announced plans to develop Oman first major wind energy project, a 50 MW plant at Harweel in Dhofar Governorate.

The new wind farm will have and estimated daily production of 1200 MWH. The project is owned by the Rural Areas Electricity Company (RAECO) and will be operated and managed by Omanis.

According to RAECO, turbines will be made in a Western nation and it is expected that local contractors will be given a large share of the construction works. The project will implemented by Masdar.

The total project investment is estimated at US$200 million. The project will be financed by a grant from Mohammed bin Zayed al-Nahyan, the crown prince of Abu Dhabi.

The new facility is expected to be operational by 2017.

Al Magdheri,Hamed bin Salim al Magdheri, CEO of RAECO, stated:

The project afterwards will be linked to the 132 kV transmission main network in Dhofar. There will be 15 to 25 turbines with heights of 120 to 145 metres from the surface of the land depending on topography, and the estimated capacity of the single turbine is 2 to 3.2 MW, depending on its location and wind movement.

Masdar has plans to issue two more wind farm projects and five solar energy projects.