The Oman Electricity Transmission Company (OETC), the country’s power transmission system operator (TSO), has completed the first phase of its North-South Interconnection Project (Rabt) which aims to link Oman’s two standalone grids into one integrated national network. The completed first phase of the project consists in 670 km of overhead transmission lines operating at voltages of up to 400 kV. It also includes five major grid stations.
With the achievement of the first phase, the Main Interconnected System (MIS) serving the northern half of Oman grid now extends from Nihada in Al Dhahirah Governorate all the way to Duqm Special Economic Zone in Al Wusta Governorate. The second phase of the project will also consist in 400 kV transmission lines and will run from Duqm further south for about 502 km to link up with the Dhofar System. The total investment required for the Rabt transmission project across the two phases is estimated at around OMR372m (US$966m).