Finns Inaugurate Northern Oman IPP

Finnish technology group Wartsila said November 16 it inaugurated the 120 MW Musandam independent power plant (IPP) in northern Oman three days earlier.

The November 13 ceremony was also attended by executives from the plant owners, Musandam Power Company.

The fast-start plant (shown above, photo courtesy of Wartsila) will provide grid stability in a remote area, as well as environmental benefits by operating on associated gas from local oil wells that would otherwise be flared. Whilst running primarily on natural gas, it can be switched to light fuel oil if necessary and requires almost no water for cooling, Wartsila added, helpful when temperatures can reach 50 degrees C. 

The plant began commercial operations in July, according to The Times of Oman, which said that Musandam Power Company is an affiliate of the state-owned Oman Gas Company (OGC).

Mark Smedley