7-Year Statement (2014-2020) Page 26
1.7 FUEL REQUIREMENTS
2013 Fuel Usage
The primary fuel resource for power generation and associated
water production in the MIS is currently
natural gas, supplied to power and desalination plants by the
Ministry of Oil & Gas (MOG). Total gas
consumption at the main power and desalination plants in 2013
was about 6.7 billion Sm3, equivalent to
18.3 million Sm3/d, which is less than in 2012.9 The peak daily
gas consumption during 2013 was 24.2million
Sm3, a decrease of 2% from 2012. These reductions are
significant achievements considering rising demand.
A relatively small amount (about 0.13 million litres in total)
of diesel fuel was used by temporary generation
facilities connected to the MIS during the summer of 2013. They
were used by OETC for local voltage support.
Projected Fuel Requirements
OPWP has prepared indicative projections for the fuel
requirements of the MIS over the 2014-2020 period,
under the Expected Demand, Low Case and High Case demand
scenarios. These projections are based on a
number of key assumptions, including:
all generation is assumed to be gas-fueled other than the
prospective solar plant(s);
solar plant(s) are assumed to provide around 50 MW on average
over the daily cycle (representing
about 1-2% of total MIS gas requirements) from 2018 onwards;
and
new gas-fueled generation in 2017 and 2018 is assumed to have a
similar fuel efficiency to the Sur
plant.
The projections are shown in Figure 8 below.
Overall fuel consumption is expected to increase at an average
rate of about 6% per year lower than the
expected growth rate of electricity demand of about 10% per
year. The projected growth rate is consistent
with the last 7-Year Statement. Under the Low Case demand
scenario, fuel consumption increases at an
average of 4% per year, whilst in the High Case demand scenario,
it grows at an average rate of 9% per year
in both cases below the rate of growth of electricity
demand.
Continuing improvements in the efficiency of power supply have
held back the growth rate in fuel
requirements. The full commissioning of the Sohar II and Barka
III plants in 2013 and the planned
commissioning of the Sur IPP in 2014 are achieving significant
improvement in overall gas utilization efficiency,
based on these plants using newer, more fuel-efficient
technology than older plants. Timely addition of new
capacity in the future, and continuing dedication to operational
efficiency, will underpin sustained progress in
the management of gas demand by the power system.
9 This total excludes gas consumed by industries and other
parties.
