A tender for the procurement of Oman's keenly awaited large-scale solar energy project is expected to be floated this year, according to the head of the nation's power sector regulatory authority. Qais bin Saud al Zakwani, Executive President of the Authority for Electricity Regulation Oman (AER), said the proposed venture - envisioning one or more solar-based electricity generation plants with an aggregate capacity of up to 200 MW - will be procured as an Independent Power Project (IPP) similar to conventional gas-based power projects. (Oman Observer)