Oman to develop rules for carbon capture and green hydrogen

Oman government

The Omani government has signed a memorandum of cooperation with local energy companies to set up an expert committee to finalise a regulatory and strategic framework for carbon capture, utilisation and storage (CCUS) and blue hydrogen development.

The signing of the cooperation pacts by the energy and minerals ministry with Petroleum Development Oman, Oman Shell, OQ Gas Networks and Oxy is part of the government-led initiatives to develop carbon capture technologies and blue hydrogen production to reach net zero by 2050.

• Oman labour reforms raise cost concerns for businesses
• Omani company explores green aviation fuel from oil waste
• India’s Acme secures funding for Oman hydrogen project

The government expects CCUS to contribute to a significant reduction of 15 percent in domestic emissions to meet the Gulf nation’s net zero target.

A specialised “house of expertise” or expert panel, will conduct a comprehensive assessment in the sultanate and contribute to developing the regulatory framework and strategies necessary for advancing the clean energy sector.

Work streams will be established to develop specific technical and organisational aspects throughout the value chain processes, with participation from both the public and private sectors, academics and investment and research institutions.

At the same time, Occidental Oman and OQGN also signed a memorandum of understanding (MoU) to jointly study potential CCUS projects in Oman.

Salim bin Nasser Al Aufi, minister of energy and minerals, in June signed $20 billion of contracts with partners including BP, Shell and the newly formed Hydrogen Oman (Hydrom) to produce 500,000 tonnes of green hydrogen each year.