A consortium led by Saudi-based ACWA Power has been awarded the Salalah Independent Water Project by the Oman Power and Water Procurement Company.

The plant will be located in Salalah, Dhofar region and will have a capacity to generate 25 million gallons per day of desalinated water using reverse osmosis technology.

The consortium also includes Veolia, Veolia Middle East and Dhofar International Development & Investment Holding Co (DIDIC), a statement said on Monday.

The project is being procured by OPWP under a build-own-operate framework on the back of a 20 year water purchase agreement, it added.

Dhofar Desalination Company, the project company, will be owned by ACWA Power, Veolia Middle East and DIDIC.

Managing Director at ACWA Power Thamer Al Sharhan said: “Oman is a strategic country for ACWA Power – our portfolio of six plants can generate over 4,300 MW of power and 42 million gallons per day of desalinated water.”

“ACWA Power is committed to ensuring the success of this project while creating real value for the local communities," Sharhan added, stating that demand for water in Oman is expected to rise by about six percent per annum over the next seven years.

Paddy Padmanathan, president and CEO of ACWA Power, said: “Water is the most vital commodity for human life as well as a necessity for all enterprises. We are delighted to have been awarded this project and the opportunity to continue supporting Oman as a reliable supplier of desalinated water and power.”

The engineering, procurement, and construction of the plant will be handled by a consortium of Fisia Italimpianti and Abeinsa Infraestructuras Medioambiente while the operations and maintenance of the plant will be undertaken by a consortium of Veolia Middle East, NOMAC Oman and DIDIC.