Oman is gearing up for its third auction round for green hydrogen projects. Bids for this round will start in the first quarter of 2025, with the winners expected to be announced between late 2025 and early 2026.
This announcement was made during Oman’s first gH2 Investor Day, which brought together over 400 international stakeholders, investors, and industry leaders to discuss strides in green hydrogen.
The upcoming auction aims to build on previous rounds, incorporating lessons learned to boost bidder participation and competition. Changes include enhanced block allocation strategies, more efficient auction processes, and innovative approaches like double-sided auctions. These modifications are designed to pair hydrogen production with downstream sectors, such as green steel and fertilizers.
With a focus on attracting a broad range of global and local participants, Oman is emphasizing localization, infrastructure readiness, and alignment with global market trends. These efforts aim to enhance Oman’s hydrogen ecosystem and bolster long-term renewable energy goals. According to H E Eng Salim bin Nasser al Aufi, Minister of Energy and Minerals and Chairman of Hydrom, the initiative is a strategic move to boost green hydrogen projects with an emphasis on sustainability, technological innovation, and economic value.
Oman aims to leverage its abundant renewable resources and advantageous geographic location to become a pivotal player in the global green hydrogen market. The aim is to create robust global partnerships and a trustworthy green hydrogen supply chain. The country’s progression is clear from initiatives like the liquid hydrogen corridor collaboration, launched during COP28. This partnership, with the Port of Amsterdam, Ecolog, and EnBW, has successfully studied the potential for specialized vessels and advanced infrastructure for liquid hydrogen exports.
The Port of Duqm is central to these developments, positioning Oman as a key hub for green hydrogen exports to Europe and Asia-Pacific markets.