China’s Drinda Scraps Planned $280 Million Solar Cell Facility in Oman

Chinese solar cell manufacturer Hainan Drinda New Energy Technology has confirmed the cancellation of its planned 5GW TOPCon solar cell manufacturing facility in Oman, following a board meeting held on November 12, 2026.

The project was originally planned for the Sohar Free Zone with an estimated investment of $280 million under an agreement with the Oman Investment Authority. Drinda had intended to leverage the Oman facility to serve clean energy markets across the Middle East and Europe while diversifying its manufacturing footprint outside China.

According to the company, the decision to scrap the project was driven by changing international tariff conditions, geopolitical instability in the Middle East, and slower-than-expected development of a local materials supply chain.

The cancellation was also influenced by newly proposed Chinese export control revisions aimed at restricting the outbound transfer of advanced photovoltaic technology.