Two new Independent Water Projects (IWPs) are being planned in the Sultanate of Oman to address anticipated capacity shortfalls over the next four to six years, according to Nama Power and Water Procurement Company (Nama PWP), the country’s single buyer of electricity and desalinated water capacity.

The first project, North Batinah IWP is planned at 150,000 cubic meters per day, with operations expected by 2032, while the Dhofar Water IWP 2030 will have a capacity of around 80,000 cubic meters per day and is due online by 2030.

Nama PWP said the North Batinah project will support demand growth in the Main Interconnected System (MIS), covering Muscat, Barka and Sohar. Procurement activities will begin once Pre-Investment Appraisal Documents are finalized and approved by the Authority for Public Services Regulation, with the company currently coordinating with Nama Water Services to secure a project site.

Peak water demand in the MIS is projected to grow 3% annually to around 1.48 million cubic meters per day by 2032, up from 1.21 million in 2025.  Average demand reached 1.09 million cubic meters per day in 2025. Supply will be further boosted by the Ghubrah III IWP, adding 300,000 cubic meters per day from 2027.

In the Sharqiyah Zone, peak demand is forecast to increase by 4% annually, from 137,000 cubic meters per day in 2025 to 178,000 cubic meters per day by 2032, although no additional capacity is currently planned for procurement in this area.

Demand in the Dhofar Zone is projected to grow by 3% annually, reaching 240,000 cubic meters per day by 2032, up from 201,000 in 2025. Nama Dhofar Services manages supply across Salalah, Taqah and Mirbat, with demand driven by both urban and mountainous areas, where reliance on local wellfields persists.

Plans include expanding the network and potentially extending services to nearby wilayats such as Thamrait and Sadah. The Dhofar Water IWP 2030 is proposed for development in Raysut, with site selection underway, and will proceed following a hydrological study to assess sustainable abstraction levels.