Muscat – In a step that re -draws the global renewable energy map, the Sultanate of Oman signed a strategic agreement with the Kingdom of the Netherlands to create the first global commercial corridor for the export of liquefied green hydrogen, starting from the Omani port to the Dutch port of Amsterdam, then to major German industrial centers, and from there to other European countries.
This ambitious project represents a qualitative shift in international energy relations, and practically embodiment of a vision of the Sultanate of Oman towards leadership in the global green economy, according to observers.
Project features
The signing of the agreement came during the official visit by Sultan Haitham bin Tariq to Europe, specifically to the Kingdom of the Netherlands, targeting the establishment of a direct corridor for the transportation of liquefied green hydrogen in line with the standards of the European Union (RFNBO).
This initiative was crystallized through a strategic partnership that brought together the public and private sectors in the Sultanate of Oman, as well as major European companies specialized in the field of energy and transportation.
The list of participants from the Sultanate of Oman includes the “Hydrom” national coordinator for the green hydrogen strategy, the “Ocio”, the main developed of the tuning and storage station, and the port of Duqm, while European authorities include companies such as “Ecolog and Royal Fouback”, Amsterdam Port and “RFPO” centers of the European Union of Renewable Fuel.
From production to distribution
- Production: It is being developed in the private economic zone in Duqm through large -scale renewable energy projects.
- Transport: It is carried out by specialized ships equipped with advanced techniques for transporting hydrogen in its authentic image, and is developed by Ecolog.
- Transfer: Hydrogen transforms from its liquid state to gas in the port of Amsterdam.
- Distribution: It is transported via gas, railways and waterways to European consumption centers.
The Sultanate of Oman plans to export the first shipment of green hydrogen in 2029, coinciding with the completion of the project’s infrastructure on both banks of the corridor.
The Minister of Energy and Minerals, Eng. Salem bin Nasser Al -Awfi, described the project as a “strategic turning point to build a hydrogen economy,” stressing that the Sultanate of Oman seeks to achieve integration between production and export.
In turn, the Minister of Climate and Green Growth in the Kingdom of the Netherlands, Sophie Hermanz, said that this agreement represents an important station in the march of cooperation between the Sultanate of Oman and the Kingdom of the Netherlands in the areas of clean energy, as this project contributes to linking the production of Omani green hydrogen to European markets, which supports strategic directions towards diversifying energy sources and enhancing its long -term security.
Hermanz emphasized that the green hydrogen sector in the Sultanate of Oman is witnessing a remarkable development according to a sound approach, which makes it among the sectors with a regulatory framework that proves day after day its attractiveness to attract investments and form partnerships worldwide.
It stated that contracts for the implementation of green hydrogen projects were granted to alliances that include 22 international companies that started implementing development work in the central governorates and Dhofar in the Sultanate of Oman.
For its part, the International Renewable Energy Agency (Irina) considered the Sultanate of Oman an inspiring model for sustainable development in the Gulf, praising the ambitious vision of the Sultanate of energy transformation.
Oman Gate to the future of clean energy
This project represents a culmination of the continuous efforts of the Sultanate of Oman in the shift towards the green economy within the framework of the “Oman 2040 Vision”, which focuses on economic diversification and reduce oil dependence as a major source of income, according to observers.
The Sultanate of Oman launched a number of initiatives to develop the green hydrogen sector, the most prominent of which was the establishment of the “Hydrom” company in 2022, as a national institution concerned with planning and implementing the green hydrogen strategy, and put it off for major investment rounds in 2023 that attracted international alliances to work in Oman.
“Haidrum” seeks to allocate more than 50 thousand square kilometers of land for hydrogen projects, which places the Sultanate of Oman at the forefront of countries globally in terms of the size of the lands designated for this vital sector.
Omani economic analyst Khalfan Al -Tuqi told Al -Jazeera Net that the Sultanate of Oman is moving in a confident pace towards global leadership in the green hydrogen industry, noting that “merely progress and early positioning in this promising technique places Oman on the global energy map, not only as a product but as a strategic center and a logistical forum for the hydrogen industry.”
Al -Touqi added that what distinguishes the upcoming Omani role is not limited to the export of locally produced hydrogen, but rather to play the role of the vital corridor of hydrogen coming from other countries, “which gives the Sultanate a rare competitive advantage in the areas of infrastructure, energy and services.”
He stressed that this step is a qualitative economic shift, as it is expected to “provide a sustainable source of income for the public treasury, and contribute directly to enhancing the gross domestic product.”
Al -Touqi stressed that the project does not only mean the export of energy, but it constitutes a platform for larger transformations, including “the transfer of technology, the opening of new employment paths for the Omanis, and the development of advanced scientific and technical specialties, as well as national training and qualification programs that prepare local competencies to integrate into the future of global energy.”
Promising horizons
According to the report issued by the International Energy Agency entitled “Renewed hydrogen from Oman”, the expected investments in the hydrogen sector may exceed 140 billion dollars by 2050, while the annual production volume is expected to reach 3.75 million tons, equivalent to 8% of the target global market size.
The Sultanate of Oman is in a confident pace towards developing the appropriate infrastructure, from pipelines and liquefaction and storage stations, to advanced export ports such as the Duqm port, which has a strategic location that connects Asian markets with European.
The ambition was not limited to one agreement, but the Sultanate announced earlier a series of additional initiatives, including:
- Several concession agreements for green hydrogen projects in cooperation with partners from Europe and Asia.
- Development of a national digital platform (tomorrow) that regulates production and export operations and connects investors locally and internationally.
The Sultanate of Oman seeks to transform the special economic zone in Duqm into a global center for the production and export of green hydrogen by developing an integrated industrial structure that includes:
- Hydrogen -related equipment and techniques.
- Ammonia and green methanol production.
- Create advanced research and development centers to support local innovation.
The Sultanate hopes that these projects will contribute to providing thousands of job opportunities, strengthening local and international supply chains, and consolidating its position as a regional center for clean energy.
