CAIRO: UK/Netherlands-based Royal Dutch Shell and France’s TotalEnergies will be drilling and working on an area in Oman called “Block 11,” which is likely to hold huge gas reserves.
An exploration and production agreement has been signed between Oman’s Ministry of Energy and Minerals and the two conglomerates.
The majority stake— equivalent to 67.5 percent—will be owned by Shell, the operator of the project.
TotalEnergies’ will own a 22.5 percent share, and the remaining 10 percent will be that of Omani state energy enterprise OQ holding, reported MEED.
“Today’s entry into Block 11 gives us the opportunity to unlock the additional potential to meet domestic and export gas demand,” said Laurent Vivier, senior vice president of the Middle East and North Africa – exploration and production at TotalEnergies.
EWEC requests EOI on water project
The Emirates Water and Electricity Co. has invited expressions of interest on the development of the Abu Dhabi Islands Reverse Osmosis Independent Water Project.
The project consists of two standalone greenfield reverse osmosis seawater desalination plants to be located on Saadiyat Island and Hudayriat Island, reported Zawya.
Through sustainable and low carbon methods, both plants will produce 100 million imperial gallons per day—covering the water demand of 180,000 households in Abu Dhabi.
“Reverse osmosis is a vital low-carbon intensive seawater desalination technology that enables EWEC to strategically change its water and power generation portfolio, and ultimately contribute to the decarbonization of the energy sector,” stated EWEC CEO Othman Al-Ali.
Financial closure on ADNOC’s $3.6b transmission system
The Abu Dhabi National Oil Co.’s project— a $3.6 billion high-voltage, direct current subsea transmission system— is on the verge of financial close.
A consortium led by South Korean Kepco—including Japan’s Kyushu Electric Power Co. International and Électricité de France— was awarded the public-private partnership contract last December.
The transmission system will decrease ADNOC offshore’s carbon footprint by 30 percent by using sustainable power sources in Abu Dhabi's onshore power network, according to MEED.
Construction on the project is expected to begin soon.
Oman receives bids on consultancy contract for smart city
Oman’s Ministry of Housing and Urban Planning has received over 35 bids of elaborate master plans for the consultancy contract for smart cities in Nizwa, Sohar and Salalah.
Oman-based Swiss Renardet & Partners submitted the lowest bid of 2.188 million Omani rials ($5.683m) for the smart city masterplan in Nizwa, while Muscat Design Centre and Partners put forth the lowest offer of 2.644 million Omani riyals For Sohar and Salalah’s master plan.
