Oman observer, 8 March 2026: Oman’s Authority for Public Services Regulation (APSR) has issued two new regulations aimed at strengthening risk management and business continuity across the electricity, water, and sanitation sectors.

The APSR has introduced two regulatory frameworks: the first covers risk management and continuity for the electricity and water sector, while the second addresses the water and sanitation sector. Both regulations are designed to enhance licensees’ ability to manage emergencies, natural disasters, cyber threats, and operational disruptions, ensuring uninterrupted service delivery.

Under the new rules, all licensees must establish an integrated risk‑management and business‑continuity system within six months of implementation. They must also develop, test, and periodically update comprehensive risk‑management plans, and are required to submit annual reports that include risk assessments, exercise results, and improvement updates.

The regulations require companies to allocate the necessary technical and administrative resources and to cooperate fully with APSR audits. Administrative fines of up to RO 500,000 may be imposed for violations, with penalties doubled for repeated breaches.

The APSR stated that the rules aim to strengthen resilience, transparency, and preparedness across utilities, promoting global best practices in risk management and supporting Oman’s broader national development objectives.

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