Launch of Oman's first wind turbine factory
The Mawarid Turbine Company celebrated the launch of the first phase of a specialised factory in the Special Economic Zone at Duqm to manufacture wind turbines, with an annual production capacity of up to 1,000 megawatts. The investment for this phase exceeds 70 million Omani rials (OMR) or 200 million US dollars.
Commercial production at the factory is expected to begin in 2026 as the region’s first hub for wind turbine manufacture and the localisation of renewable energy technology. The project will create around 1,080 jobs.
Engineer Salem Alaufi, Minister of Energy and Minerals and patron of the launch event, said that the factory will focus on infrastructure related to the development of wind energy production in the Sultanate of Oman, with a production capacity of 1,000 megawatts per year. He added that this will support many ambitious projects planned for implementation over the next two years.
He said he hoped that the first phase of production will begin by the end of next year.
Mustafa bin Mohammed Al Hinai, CEO of Mawarid Turbine, said the establishment of the project represents a major leap forward and is the first of its kind in the region in the field of wind turbine manufacture and the localisation of integrated renewable energy technology.
He added that the launch of the project’s first phase will help reduce costs and logistical expenses, while providing high efficiency products for local and international markets. It will open broad prospects for exporting Omani products and expertise as well as creating many direct and indirect job opportunities and enhancing local content.
Wei Li, Chairman of Shanghai Electric, said the strategic partnership in this vital project reflects the cooperative relations between the Sultanate of Oman and the People’s Republic of China, based on the historic and deep rooted ties between the two friendly countries.
The launch ceremony included the signing of several agreements and memoranda of cooperation.
Two agreements cover technology licensing, the establishment of a research centre, knowledge transfer, initial and technical design of manufacturing systems and the supply of wind turbines for a number of pilot wind stations.
These agreements were signed by Mustafa Alhinai, CEO of Mawarid Turbine and Wei Li, Chairman of Shanghai Electric Wind Power Group.
A third agreement involved the signing of a contract for the detailed design of the Mawarid Turbine factory for manufacturing wind turbine components in Duqm. The agreement was signed between Mawarid Turbine and CID (Gulf).
OQ Group and Mawarid Turbine also signed a memorandum of cooperation for a partnership to establish the Mawarid Turbine factory for manufacturing wind turbines in Duqm.
A memorandum of cooperation was also signed between the Ministry of Labour, the Authority for Public Services Regulation, and Mawarid Turbine to train and qualify a first batch of 350 Omani jobseekers.
The programme aims to equip them with the skills to take on technical and specialised roles in the renewable energy manufacturing sector.
Ministers, undersecretaries, officials and stakeholders in the field of renewable energy, from both the public and private sectors, attended the ceremony.