In July 2016, Water. Desalination + reuse (Faversham House) reported that Oman Power and Water Procurement Company (OPWP) had set out plans for another desalination plant in its seven-year statement for 2016 to 2022. Salalah IV was to deliver 100,000 m³/day and be completed by 2021, with first procurement steps possible in 2016. For Salalah III, a plant of equal size near Taqa in Dhofar governorate, eight international bidders had prequalified, among them Hyflux, Sembcorp, JGC and Marubeni. Peak demand was forecast to rise by 8% a year.
The report showed Oman preparing several large desalination projects at once in response to fast-rising demand, drawing in international bidders.