Shanghai Electric’s Oman Manah-1 Solar IPP Project Running Successfully for a Month
The first solar power plant of Shanghai Electric in Oman, the 500MW Solar IPP Project Oman Manah-1, has been operating smoothly for a month after passing all tests and final handover. This flagship project, in line with Oman Vision 2040 and clean energy goals, will generate 1.5 billion kilowatt-hours of electricity annually and reduce CO₂ emissions by 780,000 tons per year, equivalent to removing 170,000 petrol cars from Oman’s roads.
Shanghai Electric provided complete solutions for the project – from design and planning to procurement, construction, long-term operation, and maintenance. This integrated approach has created an efficient, sustainable energy system while driving innovation in solar technology worldwide.
To overcome political and technical challenges, Shanghai Electric partnered with French EDF in a unique dual-track agreement to meet Oman’s strict technical requirements. This approach helped resolve conflicts between international standards and local regulations.
Thanks to innovative project management, the construction was divided into 11 directly managed sections, resulting in a 22% time savings. Real-time safety report app eliminated 924 safety risks and achieved four million accident-free working hours. Dynamic planning maintained the utilization of large facilities at 90%. Cross-disciplinary training improved mobility between sites.
The construction plan included a personnel strategy with competing teams and rolling inspections in 59 project zones. On-site construction workers improved supervision efficiency by 30% during substation construction. Simultaneously, a 20-member expert team completed wiring and terminal work in just 72 hours to accelerate progress in installing medium-voltage cables.
The highly efficient coordination set a new record for grid connection. Simultaneous testing, day and night shifts, and collaboration between teams from China and Oman ensured a smooth process. The project team completed 59 zones in nine days – 21 days ahead of schedule – with 100% grid success, without damage to equipment and without injuries to staff.
„Shanghai Electric’s solution completely overturned our notions of the time needed to connect solar projects to the grid,“ said Project Manager Hamood Al Shuaili. „The team has demonstrated unrivaled expertise and teamwork. They are world-class engineers setting new global standards.“
Thanks to Chinese high-voltage cable technology and improved piling construction, terrain leveling efforts were reduced by 80%, shortening construction time by 60 days. An optimized supply chain and precise procurement planning ensured timely delivery, with overall system performance surpassing targets.
Moreover, the project boosted regional employment, enhanced energy security, and created sustainable social value. With a community-oriented approach, 90% of staff in operation and maintenance are local workers, and key technical training programs have been integrated into Oman’s vocational education system to build skills for the future.
Original content source: PR Newswire
Contact Information:
Jin Shen,
+86(21)33261246,
shenjin@shanghai-electric.com