The groundbreaking ceremony for the US$ 1 billion Salalah Independent Water and Power Plant (Salalah IWPP) in Oman took place on 10 February 2010.
Targeted to begin full commercial operations in the first half of 2012, the Salalah IWPP will consist of a 445 MW gas-fired power plant and a 15 MIGD (68,000 m³/d) reverse-osmosis seawater desalination plant. Sempcorp of Singapore is partnering the Oman Investment Corporation in the project.
The ceremony was attended by Sheikh Mohammed bin Marhoon bin Ali Al Ma’amri, minister of state and governor of Dhofar, Oman, and Dr Yaacob Ibrahim, Singapore’s minister for the environment and water resources. Dr Yaacob said, “This is one of the largest utility projects that a Singapore company has clinched in the global market. Sembcorp’s project represents the single largest stake by a Singapore company in Oman and increases our investments in Oman seven-fold.”