wiredInUSA - July 2013
40
Saudi Arabia-based power contractor
Saudi National Contracting (NCC) has
won a contract to build a 132kV overhead
transmission line in the governorate of
Musandam, Oman. The project, estimated
to cost around $98m, is part of a major
infrastructure scheme being implemented
in the country by the Oman government,
reported the Oman Daily Observer.
NCC will construct the transmission line
from Tibat in Wilayat Bukha to Khasab and
extend it a further 80km to reach Dibba.
It will supply electricity generated by the
governorate's first natural gas-based
power plant to be constructed at Tibat.
The electricity produced from the
approximately 120MW power plant will be
supplied to towns and villages in Dibba
and Khasab, replacing diesel-based
electrical generation for the first time
in the governorate. In addition, 132kV
grid stations will be constructed at Tibat,
Khasab and Dibba.
Overhead transmission
line in Musandam
An electricity exchange pact signed by
Saudi Arabia and Egypt will help the two
countriesmeet shortages inpower supply,
according to Saudi water and electricity
minister Abdullah Al-Hussayen. He was
speaking in Riyadh after signing the
agreement with his Egyptian counterpart
Ahmed Mustafa Imam.
This is one among several projects for
establishing a power grid between Arab
countries. Egypt has already linked its
power network with Jordan and Syria.
“Peak time in Saudi Arabia occurs in the
noon and afternoon while in Egypt it starts
after sunset,” Al-Hussayen commented,
adding that both countries would be
able to exchange 3,000 MW during this
peak period, which will help them save
billions of riyals that would have been
spent on building power plants.
Speaking about the Arab power grid
project, Ahmed Mustafa Imam said
it would connect Syria and Lebanon,
Egypt and Libya with Maghreb countries,
Libya and Tunisia and Egypt, Sudan and
Ethiopia, and link the Arab world with
Europe.
Egypt-Saudi power
grid deal