Since entering commercial operation in June 2024, the Barka 5 Independent Water Project (IWP) has become an integral part of Oman’s desalinated water supply network. The 100,000 cubic-meter-per-day reverse osmosis plant now supplies potable water to the Main Interconnected System under a 20-year Water Purchase Agreement.
Barka 5 Independent Water Project is fully operational as of 2026, and the latest Nama Power and Water Procurement (PWP) 2026–2032 Seven-Year Statement identifies it as one of the established desalination assets supporting water security in the Barka supply zone. This is while future procurement efforts are now focused on new capacity in North Al Batinah and Dhofar rather than additional expansion at Barka.
The successful delivery of Barka 5 also provides a template for subsequent desalination developments. Oman also continues to invest in resilient water infrastructure to meet increasing demand under Oman Vision 2040 as seen with the landmark $2 billion water contract award to French company SUEZ.
Barka 5 Independent Water Project (IWP) Project Factsheet
Location: Barka, South Al Batinah Governorate, Oman
Project Type: Seawater Reverse Osmosis (SWRO) desalination plant
Status: Operational
Operations Start Date: June 2024
Construction Start Date: March 2022
Owner/Developer/Operator: GS Inima
Offtaker: Nama Power & Water Procurement (Nama PWP)
Procurement Model: Build-Own-Operate (BOO)
Water Purchase Agreement (WPA): 20 years
Water Production Capacity: 100,000 m3/day (up to 105,000 m3/day during peak demand testing)
Population Served: Approximately 800,000 people across Muscat, Al Dakhiliyah and Al Batinah governorates
Technology: Reverse Osmosis (RO) seawater desalination
Solar PV Addition: 6.5 MWp self-supply photovoltaic plant commissioned in permanent operation in 2026
Solar EPC Contractor: Nafath Renewable Energy LLC
Owner’s Engineer (Solar): OCA Global
Solar Generation: Approximately 12,454 MWh annually
Electricity Offset: Supplies up to 50% of the desalination plant’s daytime electricity demand
Specific Energy Consumption: Approximately 2.7 kWh/m3 of desalinated water
Project Significance: Oman’s eighth Independent Water Project (IWP) and GS Inima’s first project in the Middle East
Strategic Objective: Enhance water security under Oman Vision 2040
Oman’s Barka 5 Independent Water Project Nears Completion
Reported August 22, 2023 – Oman’s Barka 5 Independent Water Project (IWP) has confirmed that it is almost done with development works. An official statement from Nama Power & Water Procurement Company noted that by 2024, the IWP targets to commence commercial operations.
The project’s EPC contract was awarded to a Korean contractor’s subsidiary, GS Inima in November 2020. The Madrid-headquartered company is recognized as a world benchmark, especially in the water sector. Moreover, GS Inima specializes in all project phases, including engineering, financing as well as operation. In addition to construction, and maintenance.
Generally, the region of Oman is an arid area with limited groundwater resources. In an effort to meet growing demands for potable water, the country has embarked on an array of small and large brackish and seawater desalination plants. The Barka 5 development, located in the South Al Batinah Governorate. features as Oman’s eighth independent water project.
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Project Capacity
Quite impressively, Oman’s Barka 5 Independent Water Project boasts a 100,000 cm/d (cubic meters a day) capacity. In periods of demand, the plant will produce 105,000 cm/d, further contributing towards improved water supply in the region. In total, it is reported to cost $1.86 billion to fully set up. Official statements noted that 70% of the project’s $130 million funding for building will be procured by GS. The company revealed that the funding will be from the Export-Import Bank of Korea. Meanwhile, 30% of the building cost funding will be from KEB Hana Bank.
As a whole, the development is a build-own-operate (BOO) project. Therefore GS Inima will run the facility for 30 years, along with financing. A press release noted that the company will generate well up to $545 million in revenue. An official from GS Engineering & Construction said that the full-fledged IWP is an exceptional opportunity to expand the firm’s technology. Furthermore, the official said that it will boost the expansion not only within the Middle East but in Asian markets as well.
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