MUSCAT, SEPT 15
Leading global liquid storage specialist Advario has pledged to support the establishment of storage and export infrastructure as an integral part of Oman’s vision to develop a large-scale green hydrogen-powered economy in the country.
Top executives from the company’s Netherlands’ head office, joined by their colleagues from Advario’s Oman operations, were in Muscat recently for talks with Eng Salim bin Nasser and Aufi, Minister of Energy and Minerals, and other officials representing green hydrogen stakeholder entities. Also present was Eng Abdulaziz al Shidhani, Managing Director – Hydrom, the state-owned green hydrogen industry master-planner.
“Building on our longstanding presence in the Port of Sohar, we reaffirmed our commitment to support the Sultanate of Oman in developing low-carbon molecules storage and export infrastructure,” said Advario in a post.
“This infrastructure forms a crucial component in supporting the Sultanate's five strategic objectives: ensuring energy security, diversifying the local economy, decarbonizing the country, creating a competitive Green Hydrogen sector for export, and supporting innovation and capability development.”
In Oman, Advario – previously known as Oiltanking Terminals Co LLC – operates a major terminal that provide bulk liquid logistics services to tenants at Sohar Port, as well as customers and traders from around the global energy sector. With a storage capacity of nearly 1.3 million cubic metres and a wide range of tank types and sizes, the terminal is equipped to offer liquid bulk handling, terminaling, storage, blending, and other such services to clients.
Investments in storage infrastructure catering to all kinds of low-carbon and green molecule based commodities will become imperative in the coming years as a series of gigawatt-scale green hydrogen projects begin to materialize across the Al Wusta and Dhofar governorates of the country in the coming years.
Such commodities are expected to include green hydrogen, low-carbon methane, green ammonia, green methanol, and synthetic fuels (e-fuels), besides an array of derivatives in the form of hydrogen-based transportation fuels, hydrogen for industrial processes, synthetic plastics and fertilizers, and sustainable aviation fuels.
“This visit further reinforced Advario’s commitment to supporting Oman’s sustainable development and its broader energy transition,” the company noted in its statement. Represented on the Advario team were Bas Verkooijen, CEO, and Douglas Van Der Wiel, Chief Commercial Officer, who discussed a possible role for the company in supporting “Oman’s ambitious energy goals and its path to achieving carbon neutrality by 2050”, it said.
In its discussions with the Omani side, Advario officials also pledged to offer their expertise in the development of integrated cryogenic storage and logistics infrastructure to help Oman in the design, construction and safe operation of such infrastructure necessary to position the country as a leading exporter of low-carbon products.
“Advario values the strong relationship with Oman’s government and its private sector and looks forward to advancing green infrastructure projects that will drive long-term, sustainable progress,” it added.
Advario Oman’s joint venture partners include OQ, the Omani state-owned integrated energy group, Star Energy (Abu Dhabi) and Seven Seas (Oman).
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