Six leading consortiums have prequalified to submit bids for an independent water project (IWP) in Oman, with a desalination capacity of 16,000 cu m per day, said a report.

These include the Acwa Emirates-Sogex Oman consortium, Utico, the Seven Seas-Aqua Venture Holdings consortium, Veolia Middle East, GS Inima and Tedagua, reported the Times of Oman.

The prequalification comes after Oman Power and Water Procurement Company (OPWP) floated a request for a qualification tender for developing the desalination project.

The winning company will develop it as a private sector project, in close co-ordination with OPWP, stated the report.

The Khasab project, which is expected to be completed by late 2019, will cater to the growing demand for water in the Musandam governorate.