Oman Green Hydrogen Summit Explores Green Hydrogen Economy Strategy, Projects

Muscat: Oman Green Hydrogen Summit kicked off at Oman Convention and Exhibition Centre here today.

The conference reviews the strategy of the green hydrogen economy in Oman, infrastructure and the in-country value (ICV) in the sector, as well as partnerships, investment and green hydrogen projects.

Eng. Salem Nasser Al Aufi, Minister of Energy and Minerals, stressed that Oman Sustainability Centre specializes in following up the progress made in Oman’s efforts to achieve carbon neutrality by 2050. The centre also provides support so that Oman could attain its objectives through various legislations, provide the necessary technology and facilitate business access for investors, he added.

The minister explained that, with the prime aim of reaching zero neutrality by 2050, key sectors—like industry, electricity, transportation, oil and gas and urban planning—have been included in the carbon emissions reduction policy.

On his turn, Eng. Abdulaziz Said Al Shidhani, Director General of Renewable Energy and Hydrogen at the Ministry of Energy and Minerals, said that the summit is being convened at the right time, now that the ministry has unveiled the first batch of investment opportunities in the green hydrogen sector, while Oman has announced its commitment to achieve carbon neutrality by 2050.

Al Shidhani pointed out that the large turnout of participants from within Oman and abroad is evidence of the great interest in the country’s potentials.

Al Shidhani said that the first opportunity to invest in the field of green hydrogen in Oman came around on 6 November 2022, when two land plots were offered in the Wilayat of Duqm, Al Wusta Governorate. He added, according to the plan, the first project will be announced in the first quarter of 2023.

As many as 40 companies showed interest to invest in green hydrogen and obtained qualification bonds to participate in the first batch of such investments, a clear indicator of strong demand, said Al Shidhani.

Meanwhile, Hayashi Nobumto, Governor of Japan Bank for International Cooperation, observed that the world is experiencing a major shift in climate change practices, since continuous energy consumption generates greenhouse gases and thereby necessitates action to bring down the volume of greenhouse gas emissions.

Nobumto pointed out that hydrogen can be produced from various sources of energy and can be used in every field, including power generation, transportation, industry and buildings. This affirms that green hydrogen offers the only realistic solution for obtaining clean energy.

The two-day conference included many discussion sessions and workshops, most notably the green hydrogen economy and strategy in Oman, the global and local perspective of green hydrogen, investment and funding of green hydrogen projects and green hydrogen technologies, as well as transporting and storing green hydrogen.