This project involves development of the Sohar IWP (Independent Water Project), located near Sohar, within the Sohar Industrial Port Area in Oman. The scope of work of this project involves development, financing, design, engineering, construction, ownership, operation and maintenance of an Independent Water Project (IWP) with a contracted desalination capacity of 55 million imperial gallons per day (MIGD), equivalent to 250,000 cubic meters per day. Raw seawater for the plant will be supplied by a Industrial Services Company, which operates the seawater intake and outfall system at Sohar Port. The Services Company will also build a new pump station to serve the new IWP's needs. The scheme will not have any new power generation facilities co-located on the site, but will be supplied with electricity from the grid. Client has issued a Request for Qualifications (RFQ) seeking detailed qualifications from developers interested in bidding for a license to implement the giant desalination plant. A deadline of March 25, 2015 has been set for submission of qualifications for the IWP. A list of prequalified bidders will be announced within six weeks of this date, followed by the issuance of a Request for Proposals (RFP) shortly thereafter. The Sohar IWP (Independent Water Project) is slated for commercial operation by April 01, 2018. The client is being advised by a consortium of consultants led by an Financial Advisers, Germany based and UK-based firms act as the Legal Advisers. "The project is totally financed by local banks - Muscat Bank and Oman Arab Bank. This comes in line with the banking sector vision of supporting local enterprises that contribute to the welfare of Omani people,” said CEO of OBIC. "According to the agreement, the investing company will provide the required technical expertise for Omani employees and workers recruited at the project. This in turn, will open new windows for small and medium enterprises (SMEs) to have a hand and make profits,” statement added.