Barka desalination goes onstream in Oman

The US$ 415 million Barka independent water and power project, considered to be the biggest greenfield power project in Oman, was commissioned in April 2003. The last of the three desalination plants was successfully tested on 22 March.

Two of the desalination units were already synchronised and are running intermittently. "They have achieved full load (100 per cent production)," said an official at the AES Barka Power Company SAOC, a subsidiary of the American energy giant. The desalination plants, which in all will have 20 million imperial gallons a day (migd) water production, will be launched as per schedule.

Interestingly, the Barka project is the maiden venture for the American group in the Middle East region. Besides the desalination plants, the project comprises a 427.36 mega-watt (MW) power production unit. The entire project is being developed by AES Corporation along with a local partner company on a government-granted build, own and operate (BOO) basis with a 15-year concession.