Majis Industrial Services Co (MISC) signed a contract on 20 January 2011 with Oman’s Public Authority for Electricity & Water for construction of a 12,000 m³/d desalination plant for the Sohar International Port Complex (SIPC).
This follows the award of a contract in December by MISC to VA Tech Wabag for the plant which will have an option for expansion to 16,000 m³/d.
Eng Rahma al Mashrafi, CEO of MISC, said that the Omani Rial 14.5 million (US$ 37.7 million) project would be completed in 19 months and the contractor would operate and maintain the plant for a period of six months. She said that the water would be distributed to industrial customers in the SIPC.
On 28 January 2011, VA Tech Wabag also formed a joint venture with Zawawi Trading to carry out water operation and maintenance in Oman. Muhammad Arif Mirza, director of the JV, told the Zawya agency on 20 January 2011, “This joint venture with VA Tech Wabag is part of our endeavour to further diversify and tap into the tremendous potential in water management. Our partnership with global leader VA Tech Wabag is a strong step in that direction.”
S Varadarajan, executive director of VA Tech Wabag, said that a joint venture with Zawawi would enable ZTC-Wabag to compete effectively in the Oman water market.