@conradprabhu –
In support of the government’s vision to develop smart cities in the Sultanate of Oman, the semi-government National Energy Center (NEC) plans to develop and roll out a complete suite of smart solutions encompassing the energy, water, buildings, environment, mobility and e-governance sectors.
A pioneer in the field of smart metering, NEC has unveiled a business model that envisions a leading role for itself in realising the vision for Connected Infrastructure, Connected Cities and Connected Buildings – all integral components of Smart Cities.
These indigenously crafted ‘Made in Oman’ solutions are set to position the company, as well as the country, as front-runners in the ‘smart solutions’ space in the wider region.
According to a senior company representative, NEC’s planned portfolio includes smart solutions for the: (i) Energy sector (smart meters, smart lighting, smart grids, microgrids and distributed generation, and remote monitoring and control; (ii) Water sector (water treatment, water management, monitoring and control, wastewater management, and hazardous treatment and energy response; (iii) Buildings (Building automation, HVAC controls, video surveillance and access control; (iv) Environment (solid waste management, air quality management, green buildings and green energy; (v) Mobility (electric vehicle charging, smart parking and payments, vehicle detection, connected cars and smart traffic control); and (iv) e-Governance (citizen engagement, public safety, and managing supply-demand policy).
“All of us can be part of the Smart Cities strategy,” said Laila al Hadhrami, Smart Cities Development Manager – National Energy Center. “We need Smart Cities in Oman, for example, to improve the quality of life for each of us. All of us deserve a good environment, health system, services, and so on. We need innovative solutions to address any shortcomings,” she stated during a conference on ‘Digital Transformation’ held in the city recently.
Initially launched as a start-up to improve energy efficiency in the Sultanate of Oman, NEC soon became a key player in the delivery of smart metering and measurement solutions in the country. According to Laila, the company was the first in the Middle East to support the large-scale rollout of Automated Meter Reading (AMR) services – a technology that helps reduce manpower costs, eliminates metering inaccuracies and billing errors.
Over the past year, NEC has signed a number of strategic agreements with Omani government and public sector organisations to support the implementation of customized smart solutions.
It includes a cooperation pact with the Ministry of Transport, Communications and Information Technology (MTCIT) to implement Internet of Things (IoT) and Smart City solutions, a Memorandum of Cooperation to deliver a Smart City pilot project at the Ras Al Hamra residential complex of Petroleum Development Oman (PDO), and a similar deal with Madayn to help transform its Knowledge Oasis Muscat (KOM) into a Smart City.
In a further testament to its regional appeal, NEC also inked an agreement with the Electricity and Water Authority in Bahrain for the supply of water meters to the Kingdom.
Investors in National Energy Center (NEC) include Shumookh Investment & Services (the investment arm of the Public Establishment for Industrial Estates – Madayn) and a number of government, defence and security pension funds.
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