Oman Power and Water Procurement Company (OPWP), the sole off-taker of electricity in the Sultanate, has been authorised to award to international investors the Manah 1 and 2 solar projects with a combined capacity of 1 GW.

The approval was issued by the country's Authority for Public Services Regulation.

The 2 solar parks, each with a capacity of 500 MW, will be built on an area of about 15 million sq m in the northern Ad Dakhiliyah governorate about 150 km (93.2 mi) south of the capital Muscat.

The realisation of the plants will involve investments of more than OMR 300 million.

Construction work on the projects is slated to begin in the 3rd quarter of this year and the start of commercial operation is planned for the middle of 2025, the state-owned Oman News Agency ONA said.

Manah 1 and 2 are expected to generate 6.6% of Oman's power in 2025. The large-scale solar parks will help the country achieve its 2050 carbon neutrality goal and increase the share of renewable energy to 30% by 2030 as envisaged in the Oman 2040 strategy.

More than a year ago, Oman inaugurated its 1st large-scale solar park -- the 500-MW Ibri II plant located in the north-western governorate of Al Dhahirah. Meanwhile, the Sultanate is preparing for the development of the 500-MW Ibri III solar power plant that is planned to go online by the last quarter of 2026.