Petroleum Development Oman (PDO) and GlassPoint Solar have actually broken ground on their spots solar job 'Miraah'. The website preparation and also grading for the project, located at the Amal oilfield in southern Oman, started one month ahead of timetable.

Miraah, meanings that mirror in Arabic, will harness the sunlight's power to make steam used in hefty oil manufacturing. In July, the two business revealed an offer to construct one of the globe's biggest solar plants which at its peak will be able to produce in excess of one gigawatt of solar thermal power.

Raoul Restucci, Managing Director of PDO, said: "The ground breaking is a considerable milestone for PDO as well as GlassPoint as we proceed towards the risk-free and effective shipment of Miraah. I commend the job group and our local specialists for their steadfast initiatives to not only remain on track, but pushing forward ahead of schedule.".

"PDO is proud to lead the sector in deploying ingenious remedies that enable us to create our hefty oil while at the same time reduce our power intake as well as our costs. Miraah will offer a significant quantity of the steam demand at Amal, reducing our dependence on gas to create vapor. The gas helped can be utilized by other markets to sustain Oman's diversification and also financial development approaches," Mr Restucci added.

The website grading is being performed by a Citizen Neighborhood Professional (LCC) had as well as run by Omanis that stay in the areas surrounding the Amal field. Creating a neighborhood Omani labor force and also task opportunities for neighborhood contractors and small company belongs to PDO's as well as GlassPoint's joint dedication to In-country Appreciate.

Rod MacGregor, Head of state and also CEO of GlassPoint, included: "Miraah will be 100 times larger than our solar pilot at Amal, which has been running efficiently for virtually three years currently. The aviator was built safely, on time and also on spending plan, giving very useful experience to ensure we attain this exact same success with Miraah at commercial-scale.".

"Miraah will generate significant worth for the Sultanate by developing brand-new possibilities in supply chain advancement, producing capacity, work and training. We are dedicated to working with neighborhood contractors throughout the value chain, from construction to the sourcing of neighborhood fabrics," Mr MacGregor emphasised.

As soon as complete, Miraah will create an average of 6,000 tons of solar steam daily for oil production. Making use of solar for oil recuperation is a long-term strategy to establish PDO's thick oil profile as well as lower usage of gas. Miraah will conserve 5.6 trillion British Thermal Devices (BTUs) of gas annually, the quantity of gas that could be made use of to supply property electrical energy to 209,000 individuals in Oman.

The major job will certainly comprise 36 glasshouses, integrateded sequence as well as appointed in modules of four. The first module will start producing steam in 2017. After conclusion, the overall task area will certainly reach three-square kilometres, an area matching to greater than 360 football pitches.

PDO and also GlassPoint will be exhibiting with each other at the Abu Dhabi International Petroleum Exhibition (ADIPEC) following week. The display will include a 3D virtual reality tour of Miraah, delivering visitors to south Oman to see the scale of the project as well as modern technology up-close. PDO and GlassPoint are chosen for an ADIPEC Award in the "Best Oil and Gas Innovation or Technology (Surface)" group.