PowerChina, a global leader in power generation, hydropower and grid development, has announced that one of its key subsidiaries – China Hydropower Engineering Bureau No 10 – has broken ground on the Oman Riyah Wind Power Project.

The sultanate’s first wind power project being set up with oil and gas companies as the sole electricity purchaser, Oman Riyah Wind Power Project features two 100 MW sub-projects – Riyah-1 and Riyah-2, with a total installed capacity of 200 MW.

Located 210 km northeast of Tumlet, Riyah-1, which covers an area of 441 hectares at an altitude of 245 m, will be completed in Q2 next year, while Riyah-2, which is located 240 km northeast of Tumlet and covers 226 hectares at an altitude of 227m, will be ready in Q4, it stated.

Once operational, the project will reduce carbon dioxide emissions by approximately 740,000 tonnes per annum and cut natural gas consumption by 380 million cu m, it added.

PowerChina said this will provide green electricity to Petroleum Development Oman (PDO), promote the decarbonisation of the traditional petrochemical industry, and help Oman achieve its ‘Vision 2040’ and ‘Net Zero Emissions 2050’ goals.

Last year in December, PDO had announced the signing of agreements with Omani group OQ Alternative Energy and French energy major TotalEnergies to develop three renewable independent power producer (IPP) projects.