<article><p class="lead">Oman is aiming to ramp up production of green hydrogen to 1-1.25mn t/yr by 2030, the sultanate announced today as part of its newly developed green hydrogen strategy. </p><p>To reach this production target Oman has earmarked two blocks in Duqm on Oman's eastern coast, and another four blocks in Salalah, each covering an area of 320km2, to be tendered for development. The blocks in Duqm will be offered publicly on 6 November, in hopes of reaching an award by March 2023, and the Salalah blocks in April 2023, with the aim of announcing awards by the end of the year. </p><p>By 2040, Oman aims to boost green hydrogen production to between 3.25-3.75mn t/yr, rising further to 7.5-8.5mn t/yr by 2050. The country estimates it will need a cumulative $140bn in investment over this period to reach its 2050 production goal. In total the sultanate has selected three regions in central and southern Oman for green hydrogen production: Duqm, Dhofar and Al-Jazir. The produced hydrogen will cover domestic demand and be exported, with Europe and Asia the most likely offtakers.</p><p>As part of its hydrogen strategy, Oman has also set up a new state-owned company, Hydrogen Oman (Hydrom), which was formally launched today. The new entity, which was previously expected to be called Hydrogen Development Oman (HDO), will be a fully-owned subsidiary of Oman's state-owned Energy Development Oman (EDO). Hydrom will be regulated by Oman's ministry of energy and minerals. </p><p>Hydrom's mandate includes the delineation of government-owned land areas and the structuring of associated large-scale world-class green hydrogen projects. It will manage the project allocation to developers as well as facilitate the development of common infrastructure and connected ecosystem industries and hubs in close collaboration with the Public Authority for Special Economic Zones and Free Zones (OPAZ). </p><p>"Green hydrogen presents itself as a key vector that enables Oman to pursue its decarbonisation, economic and energy security objectives," said Oman's minister of energy, Salim bin Nasser Al Aufi. </p><p>Today's announcements came hot on the heels of Oman's pledge, issued <a href="https://direct.argusmedia.com/newsandanalysis/article/2379719">earlier this month</a>, to achieve net-zero greenhouse gas emissions by 2050, and also ahead of the upcoming UN Cop 27 climate conference in Sharm el-Sheikh, Egypt, in which Oman is set to take part.</p><p class="bylines">By Ieva Paldaviciute</p></article>
