Oman Daily Observer reported that plans have been firmed up for a 230 kilometers long pipeline carrying natural gas from central Oman to the new Duqm Special Economic Zone on the Wusta coast.
Mr Yahya Khamis Juma al Zadjali head of Planning and Engineering at the Duqm SEZ Authority said that a corridor for the construction of the pipeline, linking the Saih Nihayda gasfield with Duqm has already been delineated.
A tender for the engineering design of the project which is being overseen by the state owned Oman Gas Company has now been floated with the pipeline slated to come on stream by 2017.
The official was speaking at the Oman Construction Summit 2012, which began at the Grand Hyatt yesterday. The three day forum, which began with an exclusive opening day focus on the Duqm SEZ, has been organised by Global Exhibitions and Conferences in partnership with the International Quality and Productivity Centre.
The pipeline is key to meeting the energy and feedstock requirements of a massive industrial and petrochemicals hub planned as part of the Duqm SEZ.
Authorities envisage a 32 inch pipeline with a capacity of around 25 million cubic meters per day of gas, earmarked primarily for a proposed Independent Power Plant and major refinery and petrochemicals complex.
Mr Al Zadjali said that initial requirements of the Duqm SEZ are estimated at 12 million cubic meters per day of gas. This includes an allocation of around 7 million cubic meters per day of gas for electricity generation. An international consultant has been appointed by Oman Power and Water Procurement Company to evaluate the size of a gas based power project based on the SEZ's estimated long-term energy demand At the same time, authorities are also exploring the feasibility of connecting Duqm to the Main Interconnected System which covers much of north Oman. An interconnection from either Sur or Nizwa is under study.
Earlier, the official listed out 17 major infrastructures, civil and utility projects that were currently in various stages of development at the SEZ. The projects in question are: the commercial harbour (due for completion by May 2012), port road network (Q2 2014), Duqm airport (April 2013), power distribution network, water distribution network (March 2012), 36 km city road network (Feb 2012), 2,000 cubic metres/day sewage treatment plant (October 2012), Duqm hotel (May 2012), Omran-owned City Hotel (March 2012), Oman Dry Dock residential complex (August 2012), ROP building (2013), temporary fishing harbour (Feb 2012), and Duqm Hospital expansion.
Besides, the SEZ Authority has identified as many as 36 contracts and projects, including some big ticket ventures for private sector investment and implementation. They include a large scale petrochemical complex, power and water desalination scheme, utility networks, airport terminal, railway network, fisheries port, solid waste management, land preparation works, consultancy services for urban design, construction of Skills Training Centre, guest houses, Duqm SEZ headquarters, SEZ road network and construction of sports complex and youth centers.
(Sourced from Oman Daily Observer)
