Statement of the problem and Exploring Factors Causing Delays on Wastewater Projects in Oman

One of the key objectives and ultimate goal of any organization is to complete and deliver its projects on time and within the allocated budget. However, this goal has become difficult and challenging for Haya water to achieve. Haya water is facing a problem of delay for delivery of its projects timely. This problem has a big impact and results time and cost overrun, loss of revenues and inconvenience/complaints from the residents (Public).Therefore, the aim of this research is to explore and investigate the factors contributing to the delays on wastewater projects in Oman from client, contractor, consultant and related external factors prospectively. The outcome of this research will contribute positively to the economy of Oman and enhance the performance of Wastewater Industry and will also help the company to achieve its vision to connect the capital of Muscat by 80% of network and sewer line in 2023.

In addition it will help the regulators, policy makers to re-organize the Wastewater sector in Oman. It is expected that the outcome of this research shall help identify and investigate in depth the most top factors of the delay caused by the client (Haya Water), contractor, Consultant and other external factor in wastewater industry. Also, shall help analyze the causes and suggest the ways of minimizing and control the issue. The below table illustrates some examples of the delayed on-going mega and critical waste water infrastructure projects executed by Haya water. A project of B3B (USD $ 64.740 Million) at Al Khuwair area for Balance Works North and South, this projects was awarded in March, 2015 and supposed to be completed and delivered in March, 2017 in two years’ time.

However, there is delay of the project and the actual completion date will be September, 2019, there is a delay of two years and six months from the original completion date. Another project (USD $ 81.059 Million) for B9-Al Ansab STP Expansion Phase II construction in the same area was awarded in August, 2015 and the agreed completion date was in August, 2017 for 2 years. However, the project got delayed for one year and the actual completion date was in July 2018. Another project (USD $ 228.0336 Million) was awarded in another area C1-Al Seeb area in June, 2008 and the original completion date was March, 2011 in three years’ time. However, the project got delayed until November, 2017 a delay of six years from the original delivery date.