Infrastructures
According to the diversification plan, the government has also been involved in a number of joint ventures with private sector firms for major infrastructures projects. Few examples worth noting are the opening of a world-class container trans-shipment port at Salalah, owned and operated by Salalah Port Services (SPS), a joint venture between the Omani Government, Sea-Land (U.S.), Maersk Lines (Denmark), and Omani investors. The container port, already one of the 13 largest ports in the world in terms of container volumes handled, is in close proximity to major East-West shipping lanes and is expected to spur industrial growth in the Salalah area.
Oman is also engaged in a privatisation of government’s assets plan to encourage foreign and domestic investors. Although many sectors have been identified, plans have been pushed ahead in power and telecommunication sectors.
The opening up of the three fast-track projects — Al Kamil Power, AES Barka and Dhofar Power project — is yet a major achievement, but the government achieved further progress with the signing of agreements for establishing a large power and desalination project in Sohar.
Sohar Power Company will have a capacity to generate 585 MW of electric power and 33 million gallons of desalinated water a day. Although full commercial operation is scheduled for early April 2007, the plant is partly operational since 2006, delivering 360-MW of power to meet growth in power demand in Batinah region.
The telecommunication sector also ushered in a new era with the entry of a second mobile operator — Nawras Telecom — in 2005. This was part of the government plan to liberalise the licensing policy of telecommunication sector in a phased manner — eventually leading to open licence in all areas.According to the diversification plan, the government has also been involved in a number of joint ventures with private sector firms for major infrastructures projects. Few examples worth noting are the opening of a world-class container trans-shipment port at Salalah, owned and operated by Salalah Port Services (SPS), a joint venture between the Omani Government, Sea-Land (U.S.), Maersk Lines (Denmark), and Omani investors. The container port, already one of the 13 largest ports in the world in terms of container volumes handled, is in close proximity to major East-West shipping lanes and is expected to spur industrial growth in the Salalah area.
Oman is also engaged in a privatisation of government’s assets plan to encourage foreign and domestic investors. Although many sectors have been identified, plans have been pushed ahead in power and telecommunication sectors.
The opening up of the three fast-track projects — Al Kamil Power, AES Barka and Dhofar Power project — is yet a major achievement, but the government achieved further progress with the signing of agreements for establishing a large power and desalination project in Sohar.
Sohar Power Company will have a capacity to generate 585 MW of electric power and 33 million gallons of desalinated water a day. Although full commercial operation is scheduled for early April 2007, the plant is partly operational since 2006, delivering 360-MW of power to meet growth in power demand in Batinah region.
The telecommunication sector also ushered in a new era with the entry of a second mobile operator — Nawras Telecom — in 2005. This was part of the government plan to liberalise the licensing policy of telecommunication sector in a phased manner — eventually leading to open licence in all areas.
