Muscat, Oman, 1 October 2018: Nama Group has announced the commencement of the live operation of their centrally implemented Automatic Meter Reading (AMR) project, designed for high value customers in the electricity sector in Oman, in a Press communiqué.

Nama Group and CESI Middle East officials at the launch ceremony

The project was carried out by a team of Omani experts, from the electricity distribution companies in Nama Group, in partnership with CESI Middle East, a subsidiary of CESI, and WIPRO Limited as the system integrator, the communiqué said. The AMR system is a central standard smart metering system that will enable electricity companies to obtain accurate, hourly meter readings from high value customers and collect their consumption in an automated manner, the communiqué further said.

Omar Al Wahaibi, CEO, Nama Group, said: “The AMR is another milestone in our continuous efforts to drive the electricity sector to enhance efficiencies, reduce electricity losses and provide better services to our customers. Moreover, this project sets a strong basis for providing more advanced services to our customers and helps us to be more effective in serving their needs in an efficient manner, in our quest to realise Nama’s vision of becoming a leading reference for utility service excellence by 2022.”

Dr Mansoor Al Hinai, VP Distribution, Nama, added: “This project, which is implemented by Omani experts from the electricity sector with the support of CESI and WIPRO will help the sector implement its future vision of building Omanis’ capabilities and put them at the forefront of leading technologies in the electricity industry. CESI’s knowledge and experience was a key factor in embedding enhancements in systems, processes and employee capabilities.”

CESI has been supporting the project since its inception in 2015, and the company’s role has been to manage the project activities to ensure the efficient coordination and delivery of several contractors, service providers and manufacturers involved in the project’s extensive implementation, the communiqué said.

Dr Matteo Codazzi, CEO, CESI, said: “We are honoured to work with Nama Group on this significant project for the Sultanate of Oman. By tapping into our team’s extensive experience developed over many AMR projects implemented in Europe, Latin America, Asia and the Middle East (for approximately 50 million customers), the Oman AMR project will successfully foster the creation of an advanced power sector in the country and also help Nama realise their vision for utility service excellence and industry leadership in the GCC region.”

Dr Floris Schulze, Managing Director, CESI Middle East, added, “This AMR project is very significant for the development of the electricity sector in Oman, as accurate and precise meter readings prepares the sector for future advancements, such as distributed rooftop solar generation, whereby solar energy is generated and consumed locally.”