Consultant named for Oman’s Waste-to-Energy project

State-owned Oman Environmental Service Holding Company SAOC (be’ah), which oversees the management of the country’s solid waste sector, has selected ILF Consulting Engineers, a leading international energy and environmental consultant, to provide consultancy services for the waste-to-energy plant to be built in co-operation with Oman Power and Water Procurement Company (OPWP).

To ensure compliance with best international practices, be’ah engaged ILF Consulting Engineers to assist in developing the tendering and planning mechanism for the project and leverage the company’s global expertise in the field of green energy infrastructure. The waste-to-energy (WTE) plant is expected to dramatically reduce the carbon footprint and promote circular economy in the Sultanate with a far-reaching positive impact across the national economy.

Under the agreement, ILF Consulting Engineers is expected to provide technical, financial & legal consultancy support during the project’s preparation, pre-qualification, RFQ development and tender stages, in addition to providing be’ah with inputs in the selection stage. The purpose of the consultancy is to ensure that the highest standards of quality, transparency and financial and legal integrity are adopted and the right implementing, and operating entity is chosen to deliver the expected impact and environmental transformation.

OPWP, Oman’s public energy procurement company, will float the main tender to select the entity that will build and operate the WTE plant and join Sultanate’s energy market as an independent power producer (IPP). However, be’ah remains an important stakeholder in the project given its position as the sole supplier of feedstock (waste). Both companies are finalizing preparations for floating the pre-qualification tender by the end of 2022.

The WTE plant is designed to process 4,500 tons of municipal solid waste (MSW) per day, and it will generate 140 MW of electricity. With such capacity and production, the project will undoubtedly have cross-sectoral benefits and contribute to the diversification of renewable energy sources while supporting be’ah to divert around 75 per cent of MSW away from landfills.

This endeavour is a vital component of be’ah’s plans to develop a safer and sustainable waste management sector in Oman through close cooperation with other public entities such as OPWP. This partnership signals a new era of collaboration between national institutions to achieve the goals of Oman Vision 2040.