Omani startup Nafath Renewable Energy has told the Muscat Daily that it is planning to start the first solar panel production facility in the country.

The company’s CEO Abdullah al Saidi said: “The project is currently in the design stage and the construction of the plant is expected to start as soon as official approvals are granted.

“Nafath has a lot of projects for installation of solar systems. And with authorities recently backing the rooftop solar systems development in Oman, the scope for producing the solar panels is great.”

No further details were given regarding the capacity of the production facility nor the cost of the project.

The company already has several solar and wind projects in Oman and is currently working on a 172-kilowatt on-grid solar energy SQU car park project.

Saidi said that the study and design of the SQU car park project is complete; fieldwork will start in September and is expected to finish in early 2017.