The Barka power and desalination plant, the biggest in the Sultanate of Oman, is likely to be commissioned early next year, according to official sources. The $411 million plant will supply 427 megawatts (MW) of power and 20 million imperial gallons per day (MIGD) of desalinated water, augmenting the power and water supply in the Batinah region and also Muscat. Commercial operations are expected in April 2003.
In May 2002, AES Barka SAOC, a subsidiary of the US-based AES Corporation, has entered into a loan agreement with ANZ Investment Bank and Arab Banking Corporation acting as lead arrangers, securing $348.6 million in bank financing for a plant. AES holds an 85 percent interest in the business with Multitech, a local partner holding the remaining interest.
The power facility is being designed and built by a consortium of Enelpower SpA of Italy and Hitachi Zosen of Japan. The plant features two model V94.2 gas turbines, a steam turbine and two steam generators supplied by Ansaldo.
The electrical and water output from the facility will be sold to Ministry of Electricity and Water under a 15-year power and water purchase agreement on a build, own and operate (BOO) basis. Gas will be supplied by the Ministry of Gas under a 15-year natural gas supply agreement.
AES Barka represents AES’ first entry into the Middle East power and water market. AES is comprised of competitive generation, distribution and retail supply businesses in Argentina, Australia, Bangladesh, Brazil, Canada, Chile, China, Colombia, Dominican Republic, El Salvador, Georgia, Hungary, India, Italy, Kazakhstan, the Netherlands, Nigeria, Mexico, Oman, Pakistan, Panama, Sri Lanka, Ukraine, the United Kingdom, the United States and Venezuela.
The company's generating assets include interests in 166 facilities totaling over 58 gigawatt of capacity. AES's electricity distribution network has over 920,000 kilometer of conductor and associated rights of way and sells over 126,000 gigawatt hours per year to over 17 million end-use customers. In addition, through its various retail electricity supply businesses, the company sells electricity to over 154,000 end-use customers. — (menareport.com)
© 2002 Mena Report (www.menareport.com)
