Oman Electricity Transmission Company will sign a series of contracts of a total value of OMR 42.9 million aimed at upgrading the country's critical power transmission infrastructure.

In all, 9 contracts will be inked with leading local and overseas contractors covering not only the construction of new grid substations and the expansion of existing ones, but also projects designed to strengthen the company's overall ability to meet the nation's burgeoning energy demands.

Representing OETC at signing will be Mr Saif bin Abdullah al Sumri chairman of the Board of Directors and Mr Ali bin Said al Haddabi GM, among other officials. OETC owns, operates and manages the Main Interconnected System a massive grid that covers much of the northern half of the Sultanate. State owned OETC's transmission system serves Muscat Governorate and the Batinah, Dhahirah, Interior and Sharqiyah regions.

Roughly half of the total contract value is earmarked for OETC's ambitious undergrounding' project, entailing the replacement of key lengths of its overhead line with buried cables. The 'undergrounding' scheme currently targets overhead transmission lines in urban areas of Muscat Governorate. By replacing overhead lines with buried cables, OETC is not only enhancing the aesthetic appeal of the capital city but also contributing to a number of environmental and safety objectives linked to the operation of its power transmission system.

According to officials, the initiative will gain new momentum with the signing of a key contract tomorrow for the undergrounding of 29 kilometers length of overhead line from Rusayl to Bausher. A Saudi firm has been awarded the contract to execute the project at a cost of OMR 21.5 million. The contract, representing Stage 3 of Phase I of the undergrounding project, covers a stretch that runs through some of the most heavily urbanized and built up areas of the city.

In Stage 2 of the undergrounding project, which is yet to be tendered out, OETC will replace 3 kilometers stretch of overhead line from Al Wadi al Kabir to Al Falaj, as well as 6 kilometers length from Seeb to Mawaleh with buried cables. Both stretches, traversing heavily built up neighborhoods will present significant challenges to contractors. Another key contract due to be signed tomorrow is for the construction of a new grid station at Qurayat. Larsen & Toubro will execute the project at a cost of OMR 10.6 million.

(Sourced from Oman Observer)