MUSCAT: Ibri Solar Project, the largest renewable energy facility of its kind in the Sultanate of Oman, was opened at a ceremony held in the Wilayat of Ibri, Governorate of A’Dhahirah.

The 500 megawatt utility, which cost OMR 155 million, figures among Oman Vision 2040 major projects aimed at optimizing available investment opportunities and protecting natural resources.

The ceremony was held under the auspices of Sayyid Hamoud Faisal Al Busaidi, Minister of Interior.

The project constitutes an authentic form of partnership between the public and private sectors. It embodies the Sultanate of Oman’s ability to attract direct foreign investments. Oman Power and Water Procurement Company, an arm of Nama Group, realized the project through contracts with a group of GCC investment firms led by ACWA Power, Gulf Investment Corporation (GIC) and the Alternative Energy Projects Company (AEPC) to set up, own and operate the plant.

The project, established on an area of 13 million square metres, of which 1.5 million was accorded to the double-sided solar panel, uses more than 7,000 square metres of cables.

Mohammed Abunayyan, Chairman of ACWA Power, said that the project will peak in productivity through the generation of power sufficient for supplying 50,000 homes with electricity and cutting down CO2 emissions by 340,000 tons a year.