A new wind turbine factory is being developed in Oman. Mawarid Turbine Company and OQ, a government-owned energy firm, are working together on this project. The announcement is part of efforts to support renewable energy in the country.
The first phase of the factory will be able to produce wind turbines with a total annual output of 1,000 megawatts (MW). The turbines will be made for local use and also for export to nearby countries.
The factory is expected to create jobs and support other industries such as logistics, transport, and raw materials. Some of the turbines may be used in new wind projects in the Dhofar and Duqm areas. These areas have been studied for their wind energy potential.
Oman already has a few operational wind projects. One of them is the Dhofar Wind Power Plant, which produces 50 MW. It is located in the south and was developed in partnership with international firms. The plant began operations in 2019 and supplies electricity to around 16,000 homes.
There are also small-scale wind energy trials in other parts of the country. In central Oman, some remote communities are using small wind turbines combined with batteries. These systems provide electricity in areas that are not connected to the national grid. The capacities of these systems range from 5 kW to 50 kW.
Oman’s government has set a target to have 30% of electricity generation from renewables by 2030. Most of this will come from solar and wind projects. To support this, more transmission lines are being built to connect future renewable projects to the grid.
In addition, the North-South Interconnect (Rabt) project is underway. It will connect the northern and southern electricity networks. Once completed, Rabt will help move wind and solar power between regions more easily.
