CPECC Wins EPC Contract For 500 MW Ibri III Solar Project With 100 MWp Battery Storage In Oman

China Power Engineering Consulting Group International Engineering Co (CPECC), a Chinese state-owned energy engineering company, has been awarded an EPC contract for the Ibri III Solar Independent Power Project in Oman’s Al Dhahirah Governorate. The project, led by a consortium headed by the UAE’s Masdar, will include a 500 MW solar plant along with a 100 MWp battery energy storage system, marking the first such hybrid system in Oman. The total investment for the project is estimated at around $300 million (RO 115 million).

In September, Oman’s Nama Power & Water Procurement Company (PWP), the sole buyer of power and water in the country, selected the Masdar-led consortium to develop and operate the Ibri III IPP under a long-term Power Purchase Agreement with the government. The consortium includes OQ Alternative Energy, holding a 25 percent equity stake, Korea Midland Power Co Ltd (KOMIPO), and Oman-based Al Khadra Partners.

Spanning approximately 10 million square meters, the Ibri III project supports Oman’s Vision 2040 and its goal of achieving net-zero emissions by 2050. Once operational, it is expected to reduce carbon dioxide emissions by about 505,000 tonnes per year and increase renewable energy’s share in the country’s energy mix by four percentage points.

CPECC, a wholly owned subsidiary of China Energy Engineering Group Co., Ltd. (CEEC), has previously been involved in several major power projects in Oman, including the 588 MW Manah II Solar IPP and a 220 kV substation project in Sohar Industrial City. The company will provide a utility-scale, grid-connected lithium-ion Battery Energy Storage System (BESS), delivered as a turnkey solution. The system will include battery racks, power conversion systems, and management systems to integrate smoothly with the 500 MW solar plant and meet Oman’s grid requirements.

The Ibri III project is significant as it represents Nama PWP’s first initiative to combine photovoltaic power generation and battery storage under a single hybrid PPA. The BESS will help stabilize the grid, store excess solar energy, and provide a flexible power supply that complements the renewable energy output.

Nama PWP has set an ambitious plan to attract up to $5 billion in foreign investment over the next five years. The organization aims to add up to 9 gigawatts of renewable energy capacity by 2030, which would represent 60 percent of its contracted capacity. These efforts are aligned with Oman Vision 2040, which targets 30 percent of the country’s energy production to come from renewable sources, signaling a strong commitment to clean energy and sustainable development.

The Ibri III Solar IPP project highlights Oman’s focus on modernizing its energy infrastructure while supporting environmental goals, demonstrating a growing trend of hybrid solar and storage solutions in the Middle East region.