Oman to establish new hydrogen entity

Oman will set up a new state-owned company, Hydrogen Development Oman (HDO), to manage the rising number of green hydrogen projects being planned or developed in the country.

HDO will probably be a wholly-owned subsidiary of Oman's state-owned Energy Development Oman (EDO), which itself was established in December 2020 in part to aid the country's transition from hydrocarbons to renewable energy.

Oman's energy ministry said in March that a separate company would soon be established to develop the sultanate's hydrogen sector, without disclosing any further details.

Oman is working to formulate the legislative and regulatory framework needed to support investments in the hydrogen sector. State-owned OQ is pursuing a number of hydrogen-related projects, but it is unclear what relationship it will ultimately have with HDO. Since May 2021, when OQ announced plans to develop the country's first green hydrogen project, Oman has signed a number of agreements with international investors and companies to develop a host of hydrogen projects and the hydrogen industry.

By Ieva Paldaviciute