Oman Power and Water Procurement Company SAOC (OPWP) and ACWA Power Barka recently announced the signing of a Water Purchase Agreement (WPA) and other project agreements for the expansion of its existing water desalination capacity by 10 MIGD (45,460 m/day).
The Project Agreements were signed by Chairman of OPWP Saud bin Nasser Al-Shukaily, and CEO Nadeem Rizvi, of ACWA Power Barka.
A Usufruct agreement for the use of the project land will be signed between ACWA Power Barka and the Ministry of Housing. The Water Connection Agreement will be signed between ACWA Power Barka and the Public Authority for Electricity and Water.
The expansion project is an Independent Water Project (IWP) to be developed on a BOO (Build, Own, Operate) basis and will be located at Barka, 65 km north of Muscat, the capital of the Sultanate of Oman.
The expansion project will be constructed adjacent to ACWA Power Barka’s existing plant and will benefit from its synergies.
The additional water capacity produced by the expansion project will help in meeting the projected shortfall in Oman’s water desalination production capacity and the demand for potable water, which increases by 8 percent per annum.
During its Ordinary General Meeting recently, the shareholders of ACWA Power Barka approved the company entering into the project agreements required for the expansion project.
This is a fast-track project requested by the Public Authority for Electricity and Water in order to meet the expected shortfall in desalinated water particularly during the next two years, Al-Shukaily said.
Rizvi said: “In the medium to long-term, this expansion project will prove to be a well-sought solution to balance shortfalls of current desalinated water production capacity in Oman.”
Oman firm, ACWA Power Barka tie up for key water project
Oman firm, ACWA Power Barka tie up for key water project
Aramco Digital to launch National Industrial Network on 450 MHz band
Aramco Digital, the digital and technology arm of Aramco, is preparing to launch its National Industrial Network operating on the 450 MHz spectrum, a network designed to enable secure, resilient, and high-reliability industrial communications across Saudi Arabia. The network has been engineered as a mission-critical industrial infrastructure to deliver high levels of security, flexibility, and reliability to meet the needs of industrial sectors. It provides wide-area coverage with advanced protection standards, supporting operational environments that require continuous performance and dependable connectivity for critical facilities and assets.
“The National Industrial Network has been designed to support the advanced operational requirements of modern industrial environments, aimed at enhancing efficiency, strengthening business continuity, and enabling a new class of highly reliable industrial communications. Together with next-generation mission-critical smart radios, the network aims to help build a future-ready industrial infrastructure that enables real-time data insights, supports industrial digital transformation, and aligns with the ambitions of Saudi Vision 2030,” said Nabil Al-Nuaim, Aramco Digital CEO.
Unlike public networks, the National Industrial Network has been purpose-built for industrial environments, enabling connectivity for critical assets, supply chains, logistics operations, and autonomous mobility systems. The network seeks to elevate smart industrial services, supporting real-time monitoring, automation, enhanced safety, and higher operational efficiency across industrial sectors.
As part of the launch, Aramco Digital plans to introduce an integrated portfolio of industrial digital solutions powered by the 450 MHz network. These include specialized connectivity packages tailored to diverse sector needs, along with a new generation of mission-critical smart radios designed specifically for industrial operations. The devices combine rugged high-performance design and industrial safety compliance with advanced artificial intelligence capabilities, enhanced sensing technologies, extended battery life, and real-time on-device data processing, helping improve accuracy, safety, and operational continuity in complex environments.
The network has also been designed to support a wide spectrum of industrial IoT applications, including asset condition and performance monitoring, fleet tracking, air-quality and environmental sensing, intelligent video monitoring, smart metering, lighting and infrastructure control, as well as mobility and fleet-management solutions. These capabilities enhance operational transparency, automation, and efficiency across both industrial and public sectors.
The National Industrial Network aims to help establish a strong technological foundation for Saudi Arabia’s next industrial phase, contributing to the objectives of Vision 2030 by delivering highly reliable, nationwide industrial connectivity that enables automation, intelligence, and advanced digital services across vital sectors. By developing connectivity solutions aligned with the needs of modern industrial operations, Aramco Digital is helping shape the future of mission-critical digital infrastructure in the Kingdom, moving beyond traditional telecommunications to enable continuous interaction between devices, machines, and AI-powered systems, and strengthening real-time decision-making through edge processing.
The 450 MHz National Industrial Network represents more than an improvement in coverage or performance. It is a strategic step toward smarter, more autonomous, and technology-driven industrial ecosystems that enhance operational excellence and set a new benchmark for advanced digital infrastructure in Saudi Arabia.
With the accelerating pace of digital transformation in the Kingdom, secure and reliable connectivity has become a fundamental pillar in supporting operational requirements and driving economic growth. Organizations across various sectors— including industrial sectors and those enabling future economies — are increasingly relying on advanced connectivity solutions and technologies to enhance safety and reliability, improve operational efficiency, and unlock new horizons for sustainable economic development.
