Oman’s Barka V project enters commercial operational phase: Spanish water treatment and desalination supplier GS Inima has launched commercial operations at its Barka V desalination plant in Oman, according to a press release. The firm, which carried out the engineering, procurement, and construction of the project, will sell the 105k cubic meters of drinking water per day it produces to Oman’s Nama Power and Water Procurement Company (Nama PWP). The project will serve 800k people in Muscat, Dakhiliyah, and Batinah. Construction started in March 2022 and wrapped up on June 2024.
GS Inima is active in the region: Together with Sogex Oman and Saudi Arabia’s AlJomaih Energy and Water, the Spanish company signed a power-purchase agreement with Nama PWP for the third phase of an OMR 125 mn (c. USD 325 mn) desalination plant in Al Ghubrah city back in May. GS Inima Environmental was also one of four bidders that the Emirates Water and Electricity Company (Ewec) received last month for the development and operation of its Saadiyat Island desalination project.
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MEANWHILE- Oman is making progress on the Ghubrah 3 desalination plant: LG Water Solutions — a business unit of South Korea’s LG Chem — was awarded a contract to supply 23k units of its seawater reverse osmosis membranes to Nama PWP’s USD 325 mn Ghubrah 3 desalination plant last month. The supply will represent 50% of the desalination plant’s total membrane capacity at full operation.
BACKGROUND- Oman is reacting to the threat of water scarcity: Low rainfall, combined with limited natural freshwater resources, has made Oman one of the most water-stressed countries in the world, according to the International Energy Agency (IEA). The country has less than 1k cbm of freshwater per capita per year, which is significantly less than the world average of around 5.5k cbm, the IEA added. “The commencement of commercial operations at Barka V underscores PWP’s commitment to improve water security and provide potable water in Oman,” CEO of Nama PWP Ahmed Al-Abri said.