Oman is making substantial investments of over $30 billion in the hydrogen economy with a primary goal of becoming one of the world’s largest hydrogen producers by 2030. The country is also a frontrunner in using clean energy, particularly from solar and wind power plants, to generate electricity.
Eng. Salim Nasser Al Aufi, Minister of Energy and Minerals, emphasized Oman’s relentless commitment to achieving carbon neutrality by 2050 through a comprehensive national plan. This plan is centered on accelerating the growth of clean energy and advancing green projects, including green hydrogen production.
The energy sector plays a pivotal role in mitigating carbon emissions and reducing the risks of climate change by expanding the use of renewable energy sources like solar and wind power. These efforts are expected to significantly lower carbon dioxide emissions and enhance energy efficiency.
Improving the energy efficiency of buildings and vehicles will lead to reduced energy consumption, thereby cutting down on fuel consumption and associated emissions. This will facilitate the gradual transition to green mobility, including the promotion of electric vehicles.
Investing in green hydrogen production projects is a crucial step toward achieving carbon neutrality, aligning with Oman’s aspirations to become one of the world’s largest hydrogen producers by 2030. The country is swiftly progressing in developing green hydrogen projects, with various agreements and bidding rounds in this domain.
The establishment of the Oman Sustainability Centre, following royal directives, serves as a significant advancement for ongoing performance monitoring. The center acts as an advisory body to ensure the implementation of the national plan for carbon neutrality in alignment with the objectives of “Oman Vision 2040.”
Dr. Abdullah Ali Al Amri, Chairman of the Environment Authority, affirmed Oman’s commitment to fulfilling international obligations under the Paris Agreement on Climate Change to safeguard the environment and preserve natural resources. Oman has been proactive in environmental preservation, implementing initiatives to reduce emissions, enhance biodiversity, promote a green and circular economy, and more.
Since adopting a national strategy for a well-planned transition to carbon neutrality last year and announcing the goal of carbon neutrality by 2050, Oman’s national team for carbon neutrality has been collaborating with the energy, transportation, and industry sectors to identify key projects, initiatives, and measures to meet emission reduction commitments by 2030 on the way to 2050.
Oman is preparing an environmental performance report to be submitted to the UN Secretariat in November, highlighting its efforts in emission reduction, climate adaptation, biodiversity development, and green and circular economy initiatives. Additionally, the country will submit its third update report on emission reduction contributions to the International Organization for Climate Affairs by the end of October.
Dr. Al Amri noted that an environmental investment project in blue carbon, a nature-based solution for emission reduction through tree planting, will be announced in the coming days.
Oman is also prepared to participate in the Cop28 Climate Summit in the United Arab Emirates at the end of November. A steering committee has been formed to showcase Oman’s environmental efforts through a dedicated pavilion at the event.
