In September 2018, Water. Desalination + reuse (Faversham House) reported that state firm Oman Oil Company (OOC) had chosen Thailand's Gulf Energy Development for an independent water and power project in the Duqm special economic zone. It comprised a 326 MW gas-fired power plant and 40,000 m³/day of desalination. Output was to go to Duqm Refinery and Petrochemical Industrial Co., a 50-50 venture of OOC and Kuwait Petroleum International. Gulf was to own 45 per cent. The purchase agreement ran for 25 years, with an option for five more.
The report showed industrial zones in the Gulf building their own power and water supply through partnerships with foreign developers, tied to long-term purchase agreements with the main local user.