EDF hosts Omani delegation on landmark pumped hydro storage project

French energy company EDF has welcomed a high-level delegation from the Sultanate of Oman to France, marking further progress in discussions surrounding the proposed 2-gigawatt (GW) Jabal Abyadh pumped hydro energy storage project, which could become the largest development of its kind in the Middle East.

Led by Dr Saud bin Hamoud Al Habsi, Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Water Resources, the delegation included Ahmed Al Araimi, Oman’s Ambassador to France; Ahmed bin Hamed Al Subhi, Chairman of Nama Power and Water Procurement Company (PWP); representatives from the Authority for Public Services Regulation (APSR); and other senior stakeholders.

The visit included discussions with EDF executives on advancing energy storage technologies, strengthening electricity grid resilience and supporting Oman’s transition towards cleaner energy sources.

As part of the programme, the delegation toured EDF’s Grand’Maison pumped hydro storage facility in the French Alps. With an installed capacity of approximately 1,800 megawatts (MW), the facility is among Europe’s largest pumped storage power stations. The technical visit provided insights into reservoir operations, infrastructure maintenance, dam safety and hydropower management relevant to Oman’s proposed development.

The Jabal Abyadh project is being advanced by a consortium comprising EDF Power Solutions, ONEIC–Takhzeen and Green Universe Enterprise. The proposed facility would utilise the elevation difference between the existing Wadi Dayqah Dam reservoir and the nearby Jabal Abyadh plateau to store and generate electricity.

Plans include an upper reservoir approximately 1,130 metres above sea level, with an active storage capacity of around eight million cubic metres. The project is designed to deliver 2 GW of generation capacity and approximately 17.9 gigawatt-hours (GWh) of energy storage, potentially providing nearly nine hours of electricity at full capacity.

The system would use surplus renewable electricity, particularly from solar generation, to pump water to the upper reservoir. During periods of increased electricity demand, the stored water would be released through turbines to generate power.

By incorporating the existing Wadi Dayqah reservoir, the project could also reduce infrastructure development costs and minimise environmental impacts.

The collaboration reflects Oman’s growing focus on long-duration energy storage as a critical component of its renewable energy strategy, supporting greater grid flexibility, energy security and the Sultanate’s broader decarbonisation ambitions.