MUSCAT: Oman's ambitious strides in the development of green hydrogen projects were unveiled at the Korea-Oman Green Hydrogen Strategic Forum 2023 held here on December 12, 2023.
Eng. Abdulaziz al Shidhani, Managing Director of Hydrom, highlighted the Sultanate of Oman’s robust experience in engineering optimization within the energy sector.
Emphasizing the role of green hydrogen in diversifying Oman's revenue streams, Al Shidhani revealed that over 33% of government revenue currently depends on oil and gas. However, the visionary shift toward green hydrogen aims to alter this landscape significantly. Al Shidhani outlined the journey embarked upon by Oman, allocating vast territories and engaging citizens in a monumental initiative.
The managing director reflected on the accomplishments achieved in just one year, marking a stark contrast to the mere aspirations discussed in the previous year's forum. Oman successfully conducted large-scale auctions, signing five projects and surpassing 94% of their set targets for 2030.
With a keen focus on sustainability, Al Shidhani detailed Oman's aspirations, aiming to produce 1.1 to 1.5 million tons of green hydrogen by 2030, escalating to 8.5 million tons by 2050. The intricate timeline, starting from the first auction to the current developments, showcased Oman's rapid strides in establishing a green hydrogen ecosystem.
To orchestrate this intricate ecosystem, Al Shidhani identified six pillars—policies, regulations, supply chain, demand, infrastructure, and capacity, and skills. Hydrom assumed a pivotal role as an orchestrator, incubator, coordinator, and advisor, facilitating a seamless integration of diverse elements in Oman's green hydrogen landscape.
The presentation concluded with a visual representation of the auction system, depicting the offered blocks, infrastructure provision, and downstream integration. Al Shidhani emphasized the importance of partnerships, inviting developers, financial partners, industrial players, and infrastructure developers to contribute to Oman's green hydrogen vision.
Oman's strategic advantages, including political stability, advanced technology, and access to infrastructure, were highlighted as key elements for success. Al Shidhani envisaged not just the production of green hydrogen but the creation of an entire ecosystem—a center of excellence positioning Oman at the forefront of the global green hydrogen revolution.
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