Oman is set to establish a Net Zero Centre to monitor and support the implementation of projects aimed at achieving its goal of zero neutrality by 2050. The Centre will offer technical support, adopt international best practices, and foster scientific research and innovation, while developing national capabilities to meet the country’s ambitious environmental targets.
Oman, rich in solar and wind resources, is focusing on hydrogen, ammonia, and low-carbon development for both domestic use and export. Over 50,000 square kilometers have been allocated for green hydrogen production, with eight projects awarded to date, expected to generate 1,380 kilotonnes per annum (ktpa) of green hydrogen.
The Net Zero Centre will play a critical role in overseeing carbon certificate trading, ensuring compliance with international carbon credit frameworks, and managing a comprehensive inventory of emissions from various sources.
H.E. Eng. Salim Nasser Al Aufi, Minister of Energy and Minerals, emphasized the Centre’s importance in advancing energy efficiency and assisting various entities in achieving the nation’s zero neutrality target by 2050.
In line with these efforts, Hydrom, Oman’s green hydrogen orchestrator, announced two new green hydrogen projects in Dhofar worth $11 billion. These projects are part of the second round of Hydrom’s hydrogen auctions, which will boost Oman’s hydrogen production to 1.38 million tonnes per year (mtpa) by 2030.
Additionally, Oman signed an agreement to develop the world’s first commercial-scale liquid hydrogen corridor, connecting the Sultanate to the Netherlands.
The government has outlined five strategic objectives for its green hydrogen initiatives: ensuring energy security, diversifying the economy, decarbonizing the country, creating a competitive green hydrogen sector for export, and fostering innovation. Plans also include developing a fully integrated hydrogen infrastructure that includes manufacturing facilities for renewable energy products, steel plants, and derivative synthesis facilities, all supported by substations and desalination plants.
In the short term, Oman will focus on the development of wind turbines, solar PV, and electrolyser assembly, with long-term goals including the manufacturing of efuels, green steel, and electrolyzers.
LNG is also a key focus for Oman’s energy sector. A new project, Marsa Liquefied Natural Gas (Marsa), a joint venture between TotalEnergies and OQ Alternative Energy, will feature a liquefaction plant with a capacity of 1 million tonnes per year (Mt/y) located at the Port of Sohar. The plant will be powered by solar energy from a dedicated 300 MWp solar plant and will process gas sourced from the Mabrouk North-East field.
