Oman And Belgium Signs MoU For Green Energy

Oman and Belgium recently signed an MoU to partner on green energy-related issues under the presence of Dr. Mohammed bin Hamad al Rumhy, Minister of Energy and Minerals.

This MoU is linked to the development of a world-scale green hydrogen scheme – dubbed HYPORT Duqm – at the SEZ in Duqm which agreement was signed last year.

HYPORT Duqm is a joint initiative of OQ Alternative Energy (a division of OQ – the Sultanate’s integrated energy group) and DEME Concessions of Belgium (which is a key shareholder in Port of Duqm).

A couple of days ago, an MoU was signed with German energy giant Uniper to provide engineering services and negotiate an exclusive offtake agreement of green ammonia from the project.

The HYPORT Duqm project will develop a 250 to 500 MW green hydrogen facility in the Special Economic Zone (SEZ) at Duqm in the first phase. The facility is planned to come into operation in 2026 and will respond to the global demand for green hydrogen and its derivatives. HYPORT Duqm Phase 1 will establish a complete power-to-product value chain at a utility-scale, combining first-of-a-kind technology integration with economies of scale, producing competitive green hydrogen and green ammonia.

Future expansions are foreseen in subsequent phases, whereby a further scaling up of the value chain will transform the Duqm SEZ into a Green Hydrogen hub in Oman and the wider region. HYPORT Duqm showcases the development of a complete green hydrogen value chain, from the installation of up to 1.3 gigawatt-peak (GWp) of renewable power generation capacity from solar and wind (Phase 1), via the electrolysis-based hydrogen production to the synthesis of green ammonia.

HYPORT Duqm will connect to Port of Duqm’s brand-new export terminal, storage infrastructure, and liquid jetties and will use Port of Duqm as its gateway to deliver competitive decarbonized molecules across global users.

The Ministry of Energy and Minerals said, “Stemming from the distinguished relations between the Sultanate of Oman and the Kingdom of Belgium, desiring to promote and develop cooperation between them. An MoU was signed to enhance and develop cooperation between them in the field of green energy.”

“MoU also calls for implementing standards for green certification of grid electricity, the interaction between universities, scientific research institutions, and the private sector of both countries,” he further added.