Coal-Fired Power Generation
Although alternative modes of power generation are being seriously considered by the sultanate, conventional thermal plants continue to play an important role in the equation

Oman relies 100 per cent on fossil fuel resources, mainly gas for its power generation. Today, there is a great incentive for Oman to exploit renewable energy in order to face the changing environment and to guard against future trends. The strategy of privatisation of this sector was approved by the council of ministers on December 21, 1999. The council’s aim is to restructure the electricity and water sector in Oman by separating the processes of generation, transmission and distribution in addition to the establishment of an effective organisational framework for an independent status in taking decisions, supervision and control of the sector.

Power regulations
Royal Decree no 78/2004 was issued on July 20, 2004, to regulate and privatise the electricity and the water related sector, regulate the nature of such investment and to organise the relationship between the parties concerned in this sector.

New projects in this sector which were privatised through a Build, Operate, Own and Transfer (BOOT) and/or Build, Operate and Own (BOO) models, include Manah Power Project; Salalah Electricity System; Al Kamil Power Project; Barka Power and Desalination Project; Sohar Power and Desalination Project; and Water Desalination Plant at Sur.

Inspite of laying emphasis on the use of non-conventional sources of energy such as solar power, nuclear power and wind power, the coal-fired thermal power generation sector still occupies an imposing presence.

Coal is one of the most widely used fuels in thermal power plants. With the world on a development spree, there is shortage of power in most places whilst the demand seems to be in a never-ending upward spiral. Although alternative modes of power generation are being seriously considered, the conventional thermal power plants play an important role in this power equation.

The power production

There are four main circuits in any thermal power plant and these are:

Coal and ash circuit: This deals mainly with feeding the boiler with coal for combustion purposes and takes care of the ash that is generated during the combustion process. This also includes equipment and paraphernalia that is fundamental to handle the transfer and storage of coal and ash.

Air and gas circuit: Air is one of the main components of the fire triangle and therefore most important for combustion. A lot of coal is burnt inside the boiler therefore it needs a significant quantity of air, which is supplied using either forced draught or induced draught fans. The exhaust gases from the combustion are then used to heat the ingoing air through a heat exchanger before being let off in the atmosphere.

Feed water and steam circuit: This deals with transferring of steam generated from the boiler to the turbines and handles the outgoing steam from the turbine by cooling it to form water in the condenser to reuse it in the boiler and to make good any losses due to evaporation.

Cooling water circuit: This deals with handling of the cooling water required in the system. Since the amount of water required to cool the outgoing steam from the boiler is substantial, it is either taken from a nearby water source such as a river/ dam/ canal, or it is done through evaporation if the quantity of cooling water available is limited.

Despite the global trend to change over to eco-friendly methods of power generation, the conventional coal-fired thermal production remains prominent option by virtue of its cost effectiveness and easy availability.




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