The unveiling of Hydrom’s hydrogen lab began a concerted effort to prepare the nation for sustainable hydrogen production by 2030.
Hydrom, Oman’s hydrogen company, collaborates with the Oman Vision 2040 follow-up unit and the Ministry of Energy and Minerals. This two-week lab aims to assess the national readiness for green hydrogen production and support the country’s ambitious goal of producing over a million tons annually by the decade’s end.
National Hydrogen Strategy
Eng. Salem bin Nasser Al Aufi, Minister of Energy and Minerals, emphasized the importance of developing a green hydrogen sector as a core element in Oman’s energy transition strategy. The lab’s goals extend beyond infrastructure readiness. It aims to create a strategic plan that ensures coordinated efforts across relevant sectors, enhances Oman’s competitiveness, and seizes economic opportunities.
Oman plans to invest $49 billion by 2030 to become a major exporter of low-carbon hydrogen. The country aims to install 40 million solar panels, 2000 wind turbines, and 650 electrolyzers. These investments are intended to secure energy supply locally and globally and boost economic diversification.
Implementation Milestones
The lab, designed to evaluate support sector readiness, will explore five core pillars. The first pillar reviews the capability of local engineering, procurement, and construction contractors. The second focuses on workforce requirements, while the third addresses permit and regulatory simplifications to facilitate project executions.
The fourth pillar examines logistics infrastructure, ensuring ports, transportation networks, and supply chains are fully prepared. The fifth examines local content and opportunities for domestic companies in the hydrogen value chain, fostering innovation and investment in alternative energy.
Strategic Collaboration
Hydrom has been allocated over 2300 square kilometers out of a potential 50,000 km² for green hydrogen projects involving investments from Asian, European, Australian, and Middle Eastern energy companies. These partnerships aim to build a robust, competitive, sustainable hydrogen production framework.
Eng. Abdulaziz bin Saeed al Shezani, General Manager of Hydrom, highlighted the lab’s strategic design to systematically evaluate and address challenges while fostering economic opportunities and aligning with national diversification programs. Eng. Ahmed bin Ibrahim al-Abri, Director of Planning and Organization, emphasized that their strategy builds on previous successes and strengthens collaboration across sectors.
Investment and Future Projects
Hydrom coordinates with public and private sectors to accelerate infrastructure development, storage facilities, and digital transformation. Eng. Abdulaziz Alyateri, CEO of Yamna—a consortium between EDF Renewables, J Power, and Yamna Limited—underscored the importance of Oman’s attractive investment climate for green hydrogen projects. The consortium aims to produce 185,000 tons of green hydrogen annually by 2030, using 4.3 GW of wind and solar power alongside a 2.5 GW electrolyzer. The hydrogen will be supplied to an ammonia plant planned for the Salalah Free Zone.
