Pact signed to turn oilfield waste into clean energy
Sultan Qaboos University (SQU) has signed a pioneering research agreement with ARA Petroleum to explore innovative ways of converting produced brine—a waste byproduct from oil and gas operations—into sustainable energy resources such as biohydrogen and biochar.
The agreement was signed at the University's Cultural Centre by Professor Amer bin Saif al Hinai, Deputy Vice-Chancellor for Postgraduate Studies and Research at SQU, and Dr Omar bin Salim al Jaaidi, Vice President of ARA Petroleum. The project will be fully funded by ARA Petroleum and supported with its technical expertise, bringing together academic research and industrial know-how to support Oman's sustainability goals.
In an interview with the Observer, Dr Saleh al Saadi, Director of the Sustainable Energy Research Centre at SQU, said the collaboration reflects the University's core mission to advance technologies that address real-world challenges.
'This partnership aligns directly with SQU's vision of advancing sustainable technologies by addressing real industrial challenges through research,' Dr Al Saadi said. 'By converting produced water into biohydrogen and biochar, the project supports Oman's Vision 2040 and Net-Zero 2050 goals. It contributes to renewable energy development, water reuse, and environmental protection, while building local research capacity.'
Produced brine, typically high in salinity and contaminants, is one of the oil sector's most complex waste streams. Dr Al Saadi's research team aims to overcome technical barriers such as low hydrogen yields and inefficiencies in the conversion process.
'We are tackling major challenges like the high salinity and toxicity of produced water,' he explained. 'Our team is developing an optimised two-stage fermentation system to increase hydrogen output, using biochar to enhance gas quality. In addition, we plan to incorporate AI modelling to improve process efficiency and ensure the project's economic viability. The aim is to transform waste into clean energy and agricultural inputs.'
The collaboration is also notable for integrating public, private, and academic stakeholders. It has received strong backing from the Ministry of Higher Education, Scientific Research and Innovation, with its Ejaad platform playing a vital role in linking academia with industry.
'This collaboration unites academia (SQU), industry (ARA), and government (Ejaad) to address national priorities,' said Dr Al Saadi.
'It shows how joint innovation can drive Oman's transition to a knowledge-based and sustainable economy. It not only enables the development of real-world solutions, but also builds national expertise and accelerates the commercialisation of green technologies.'
Dr Omar bin Salim al Jaaidi remarked, 'This collaboration underscores the strength of local expertise and the potential of Oman's young generation. By working with Sultan Qaboos University, we are not only developing sustainable energy solutions, but also empowering the next generation of innovators and researchers to lead efforts to address global environmental challenges.' As the world moves towards more circular and sustainable energy practices, this initiative places Oman at the forefront of research-driven solutions for resource recovery and decarbonisation in the hydrocarbon sector.
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