Muscat: Oman is preparing to create a group of like-minded investors, national and international, to add impetus to its ambitious aims of Carbon-Free Energy Projects in the country.

At present, a framework is being discussed to establish Oman as the hub.

“We just circulated (a draft) to the different companies that are partners with us in the potential for creating a hydrogen alliance within the Sultanate,” said Eng Salim bin Nasser Al Aufi, Under-Secretary of the Ministry of Energy and Minerals.

He further added, “We are finalising the terms of the Hydrogen Alliance so that it doesn’t infringe on any issues to do with confidentiality, misuse, and so on. That’s on its way. Soon we will be signing that (document) with most of the partners, particularly from the private sector — both local and international companies — to try and give new momentum to the hydrogen economy (strategy).”

During a webinar organised by leading global management consulting firm Guidehouse and the German Emirati Joint Council for Industry & Commerce (AHK), the announcement was made. The Webinar was titled, “Green Hydrogen Demand and Certification”. The event was conducted under the aegis of Oman’s Ministry of Energy and Minerals and Germany’s Federal Ministry of Economic Affairs and Energy.

Al Aufi stated, “We are aligned when it comes to the commercials, and we also aligned when it comes to the environment. For our part, we need to meet the local requirement for green hydrogen and generate enough so that we are also contributing to the global economy.”

Prominent attendees at the webinar included, Yousuf bin Said al Amri, the Sultanate’s Ambassador to Germany; Thomas Schneider, German Ambassador to the Sultanate; Thorsten Herdan, Director-General — German Ministry of Economic Affairs and Energy; Dr Salim al Huthaili, CEO — Alternative Energy, OQ; Olav Carlsen, CFO — Hydrogen Rise; Dr Khalil al Hanashi, Energy Value Chain Lead, Energy Renewal; and Ali al Rawahi, Project Delivery Manager — PDO.