Oman Sustainability Centre, newly set up to spearhead the delivery of the nation’s Net Zero strategy, will also support technological advancement and scientific innovation to help accelerate the Sultanate of Oman’s energy transition, according to a high-level official associated with this initiative.
Eng Faiza al Harthi (pictured), Head of Energy, Environment and Natural Resources Priority Support at Oman Vision 2040 Implementation Follow-up Unit, said the new facility will serve as a hub of the following four centres: (1) Think-tank, Advisory and Follow-up Support Centre (2) Business Environment Centre (3) Centre for Technological Advancement, Innovation & Scientific Research, and (4) Net Zero Socioeconomic Centre.
In a briefing on the new centre, whose establishment stems from the Royal Directives of His Majesty Sultan Haitham bin Tarik, the official noted that the entity will be supported by the Ministry of Energy and Minerals, Oman Vision 2040 Implementation Follow-up Unit, Environment Authority and the Civil Aviation Authority (CAA).
“Its primary task is to ensure the implementation of the Net Zero national plan in line with the follow-up methodology to achieve the objectives of Oman Vision 2040,” Eng Faiza said at the media briefing last week. “It will also facilitate the obtainment of the necessary approvals from the relevant decision-makers to achieve the targeted goals in a timely manner,” she stated.
In its role as a Net Zero think-tank, the centre will formulate strategies, policies and regulations in support of Oman’s carbon emission reduction goals. Besides providing technical and advisory services, it will monitor progress in the reduction of greenhouse-gas emissions (GHG).
Further, in its role as a Business Environment Centre, the new entity will support the development of sustainable finance and circular economy programmes. Also as part of its remit, it will ensure infrastructure readiness for investment.
Importantly, innovation and scientific research will be a key objective of Oman Sustainability Centre. Towards this end, the centre will make recommendations on the financing of research and development activities, while also enhancing and accelerating scientific research and innovation. Additionally, it will support the initiation of demo projects for energy transition technologies.
Finally, as a Net Zero Socioeconomic Centre, it will conduct awareness and educational programmes in support of rationalized energy consumption and sustainability. It will also support local content development and capacity building within this emerging sector, she added.
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