Shell completes 25-MW solar plant in Oman –

Today, Oman Shell launched the 25-megawatt Qabas solar plant, helping the port and freezone in Sohar to become more sustainable and demonstrating the commercial benefits of solar power for industrial purposes. Owned by Shell, Sohar Solar Qabas is the company’s first utility scale, photovoltaic (PV) solar project in the Middle East and in Oman.

Sterling and Wilson acted as the EPC for the project.

The plant is located on a 50-hectare site within Sohar Freezone, northern Oman, and consists of over 88,000 solar modules. The renewable electricity output from Qabas will be supplied to a large ferrochrome production facility.

The project was completed on time and on budget, said Shell, despite unprecedented challenges created by the global COVID-19 pandemic.

Oman Shell has future ambitions to facilitate solar energy development within The Sultanate.

Walid Hadi, Oman Shell’s VP & Country Chairman commented: “This is an incredible project and the first of its kind for Shell in the Middle East and in Oman.”

His Excellency Dr. Ali bin Masoud Al Sunaidi, Chairman of The Public Authority for Special Economic Zones and Free Zones (OPAZ) commented, “I would like to congratulate Oman Shell and SOHAR Free Zone for inaugurating this solar project in Sohar. The facility is an important milestone and it aligns with Oman Vision 2040, the Sultanate’s national economic ambition. It is the first step for the Public Authority of Special Economic Zones and Free Zones’ plan for solar projects equating to 1 gigawatt in Sohar. This will help free up natural gas for other industrial use.”