Oman Power and Water Procurement Company (OPWP) has invited bids from international consultancy firms for provision of advisory services linked to the development of a landmark waste-to-energy project in the sultanate, said a report.

Successful bidders will be part of a consortium of consultants that will advise state-owned OPWP, a member of Nama Group, on the competitive process leading to the selection of a developer to build the waste-to-energy scheme as an independent power project (IPP), reported the Oman Observer.

OPWP, the sole procurer of new power and water capacity, said the project will use 1.4 million tonnes of waste per annum as a fuel resource.

The venture will help support Oman’s fuel diversification strategy away from the nation’s current dependence of natural gas as the fuel resource for the bulk of its electricity and desalinated water requirements, it added.

The last date for submission of bids for technical, commercial and legal advisory services contracts is November 14, said the report.

OPWP expects to issue the Request for Qualifications (RFQ) by the year-end followed by a Request for Proposals (RFP) in the first quarter of 2019.

The project is likely to be awarded in the third quarter of next year and is due for commercial operation in 2022.