A joint venture between OQ Alternative Energies (OQAE), a subsidiary of OQ Group, and French energy company TotalEnergies has completed the energisation of the North Oman Solar project, a significant step toward its upcoming commercial launch. The 105-megawatt photovoltaic plant, located at Saih Nihayda within Petroleum Development Oman’s (PDO) Block 6 concession area, is expected to provide clean electricity to support PDO’s oil and gas operations, contributing to the company’s broader decarbonisation strategy.
The successful energisation marks the transition from construction to the final phases of commissioning and operational readiness, according to Sami al Mazidi, Executive Managing Director of Renewable Energy Projects for the OQAE-TotalEnergies joint venture. He highlighted the milestone as the result of disciplined execution and collaboration among all parties involved.
This project is part of the Rawafid clean energy initiative, a portfolio of three renewable energy projects being developed on behalf of PDO by the OQAE-TotalEnergies partnership. Alongside North Oman Solar, the portfolio includes two wind farms—Riyah-1 and Riyah-2—located at PDO’s Amin and West Nimr fields in southern Oman. These wind farms have a combined capacity of 234 MW and are currently in the construction phase, with commercial operations anticipated to start in the fourth quarter of 2026.
Almoatasem Al Ismaili, Project Manager at OQ Alternative Energy and Deputy Projects Director for Riyah 1 & 2 Wind and North Oman Solar, described the energisation as a key milestone on the path to the project’s commercial operation date. He emphasized that the achievement was made possible through effective teamwork, close coordination, and a sustained commitment to safe project execution.
Niraj Pandiya, Project Director for TotalEnergies Renewables Middle East and Africa, underlined the complementary strengths of the two partners as central to the project’s successful completion. He noted that while energisation completes the construction phase of Oman’s first renewable energy project under the joint venture, it also marks the beginning of ongoing collaboration aimed at delivering further clean energy developments.
The North Oman Solar project is slated to reach commercial operation in the second quarter of 2026. The OQAE holds a majority share of 51 percent in the joint venture, with TotalEnergies owning the remaining 49 percent.