Petroleum Development Oman (PDO) is installing thousands of solar panels in its car parks to provide power for its headquarters in Muscat.
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The environmentally friendly move will save more than 3.1 million cubic metres of gas a year, enough to provide electricity for almost 1,000 homes. It will also cut carbon dioxide emissions by 6,662 tonnes annually, the equivalent of taking more than 1,400 cars off the road or planting almost 173,000 trees.
Once complete, the 5.92 MWp (megawatt peak) solar project will generate 9,480,000 KWh (electrical units) per year. Generated power will be connected to three of the main office buildings at PDO’s Mina Al Fahal complex.
PDO Managing Director Raoul Restucci said: “At present, PDO is fully dependent on fuel gas to generate electrical power for its business needs.
“At the same time, the level of solar energy density in Oman is one among the highest in the world so it made both financial and environmental sense to take the initiative to develop “green power” in a phased manner.
“Sustainability is key to everything we do and we are committed to solutions which deliver more value, both for our immediate stakeholders and the whole of Oman. We believe there is a lot more potential to harness the sun’s energy across our portfolio and the Sultanate generally.”
A total of 18,500 solar photo voltaic (PV) modules are currently being fitted to the canopies of 2,400 parking lots and the project is expected to be completed this November. The project is the largest solar scheme at a single location in Oman and spans an area of 37,000m2.
The renewable energy scheme is being executed as a joint venture by Spanish company Elecnor S.A. in partnership with Omani firm Rukun Al Yaqeen (RAY) International LLC.
Mr Restucci signed the contract with Elecnor S.A. Vice President Alberto Jordán Reig and RAY International LLC Managing Director Tameem Bin Saif Al Mahrouqi at an official ceremony at PDO Knowledge World Centre today (22 January).
PDO Infrastructure Power Systems Department Management Mohammed Aghbari said: “This scheme is a hassle-free, fully automatic operation with negligible operating costs.
“At the same time, it reduces our dependency on the metered grid supply of electricity and hopefully acts as a catalyst to other oil and gas operators to explore the use of more renewable energy sources.
“I am also excited by the opportunity it offers to develop Omani capability in solar and to build a local supply chain in this growing area.”
PDO is already using solar energy for street lighting and water heating in its Ras Al Hamra residential development and is currently working with partner GlassPoint Solar to build the largest solar energy plant at peak capacity in the world at its Amal cluster in southern Oman. The Miraah project will harness the sun’s rays to create steam as an alternative to gas for use in thermal enhanced oil recovery.
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Note to editors: Petroleum Development Oman (PDO) is the major exploration and production company in the Sultanate. It accounts for about 70% of the country's crude-oil production and nearly all of its natural-gas supply. The Company is owned by the Government of Oman (which has a 60% interest), the Shell Group (which has a 34% interest), Total (which has a 4% interest) and Partex (which has a 2% interest). Gas fields and processing plants are operated by PDO exclusively on behalf of the Government.
For further information please contact the PDO External Affairs Directorate:
Karima Farid Al Shahaibi,
Media Relations Advisor,
Tel: 2467-7756