Oman's Authority for Public Services Regulation (APSR) has announced the implementation of three new strategic projects for 2026: the continuous renewable energy production project, battery energy storage systems (BESS), and demand response management, alongside improvements to service assurance standards.

The announcement came during the Authority's annual media briefing, where officials also revealed that investment in regulated sectors will increase to USD 22.8 billion during the 11th Five-Year Plan (2026–2030).

Investment Growth and Regulatory Framework

The volume of investments in regulated sectors reached approximately USD 8.8 billion during the years of the 10th Five-Year Plan (2021–2025). For the upcoming period (2026–2030), this investment will more than double to USD 22.8 billion, distributed as USD 18.2 billion in the electricity sector, USD 1.3 billion in the natural gas transmission sector, and USD 3.3 billion in the water and wastewater sector.

Over the past five years, the Authority has adopted an integrated regulatory system that included the issuance of 17 regulations, the granting of 14 licenses, the provision of 14 exemptions, and the development of 15 frameworks for subscriber rights. Additionally, the Authority approved six security and safety standards and eight standards to ensure grid reliability.

Renewable Energy and Sector Growth

Within the framework of the transition to renewable energy, the proportion of renewable energy production reached 9.46 percent of total production by 2025, compared to 1.95 percent in 2021, with a production capacity covering the consumption of approximately 155,000 homes. Strategic projects in generation and the transition toward renewable energy were implemented to achieve this growth. The water and wastewater sector recorded a growth of 13 percent in water consumption and 12 percent in the number of subscribers during the period (2021–2025). The number of subscribers in the electricity sector rose by 14 percent, while consumption increased by 27 percent, reflecting the economic and urban expansion in the Sultanate of Oman.

Infrastructure Development and Employment

In the electricity transmission sector, line lengths increased by 40 percent, and the number of stations increased by 13 percent. Indicators for the distribution sector showed an increase in network lengths by 13 percent and an 8 percent increase in the number of stations. The water and wastewater sector witnessed a 32 percent growth in network lengths and a 9 percent increase in the number of stations, with the sewage treatment rate reaching 98 percent. The number of water quality tests rose by 74 percent, and the compliance rate with Omani drinking water standards reached 99.81 percent.

The Omanisation rate in sector companies reached 98.55 percent, and 78 percent in permanent contract companies, with the number of new jobs created in the basic services sector during 2025 reaching approximately 2,050. Total spending on small and medium enterprises (SMEs) rose by 80 percent to reach RO 119 million compared to RO 66 million in 2024.

Gas Transmission and Future Projects

In the gas transmission sector, a 3 percent growth in network capacity was recorded, along with a 5.9 percent increase in pipeline lengths and a 22 percent rise in the volume of transported gas. Expansion projects for gas transmission networks included the construction of the second 42-inch diameter line between Fahud and Sohar, the gas supply project for the Marsa LNG company, and the project linking the gas network (SGL) belonging to SOGL with the gas network.

The continuous renewable energy production project relies on providing electricity production from renewable sources operating around the clock, contributing to the stability and sustainability of the energy system. Battery energy storage projects rely on advanced electrical battery systems to store electricity during periods of low demand, especially energy produced from renewable sources, and then re-inject it into the grid when needed.

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