Latest news with #AbdulazizSaidalShidhani
Zawya
05-05-2025
- Business
- Zawya
Oman unveils Single Permit System for green hydrogen developers
MUSCAT: In a landmark move aimed at easing the substantial permitting burden faced by green hydrogen developers, Hydrom — the orchestrator of Oman's green hydrogen industry — has announced the launch of a Single Permit System designed to streamline the approvals process. The announcement was made during a webinar held last week to launch Oman's third green hydrogen auction round. A land block of up to 300 square kilometers near the Special Economic Zone at Duqm is being prepared, with Hydrom inviting proposals for projects covering a minimum of 100 square kilometers. Traditionally, developers seeking to secure access to land for project development have had to engage with over a dozen government ministries and agencies. In a bid to simplify this often cumbersome process, Hydrom has now introduced a one-stop system. Eng. Abdulaziz Said al Shidhani, Managing Director of Hydrom, explained that the Single Permit System was one of the key outcomes of the National Green Hydrogen Ecosystem Readiness Laboratory, held last September in collaboration with the Ministry of Energy and Minerals and the Oman Vision 2040 Implementation Follow-Up Unit. 'With the support of the entire ecosystem, we have reached a point where we can issue a single automatic permit on the day of award, granting developers immediate access to their allocated land — without the need to knock on the doors of the individual authorities that typically issue these approvals,' he stated. Entities traditionally involved in the permitting process include the Ministry of Energy and Minerals, Ministry of Housing and Urban Planning, Environment Authority, Public Authority for Special Economic Zones and Free Zones (OPAZ), Ministry of Defence, Civil Aviation Authority, Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries and Water Resources, Nama Group, Authority for Public Services Regulation, Ministry of Commerce, Industry and Investment Promotion, Royal Oman Police (ROP) – Customs and Security Divisions, Asyad Group / Port Authorities, among others. 'Of course, developers still have certain obligations to fulfill, but we believe the Single Permit System will significantly reduce administrative complexity and save valuable time, enabling developers to begin their activities much sooner,' added Eng. Abdulaziz. In another notable update to the auction format, Hydrom announced that it is now exploring the possibility of allowing developers to sell surplus renewable electricity — a feature not available in earlier auction rounds. If approved, this move could substantially enhance the investment appeal of green hydrogen projects in Oman. Commenting on the potential policy shift, Eng. Abdulaziz said: 'For those who participated in Rounds 1 and 2, you'll recall that the sale of surplus electricity was restricted to connected industries. This time, we are open to exploring broader avenues for surplus power sales, provided two conditions are met: First, it must not affect the minimum hydrogen production targets set for each block; and second, the necessary regulatory approvals must be obtained under Oman's existing regulatory framework.' 2022 © All right reserved for Oman Establishment for Press, Publication and Advertising (OEPPA) Provided by SyndiGate Media Inc. (
Observer
03-05-2025
- Business
- Observer
Oman unveils Single Permit System for green hydrogen developers
MUSCAT: In a landmark move aimed at easing the substantial permitting burden faced by green hydrogen developers, Hydrom — the orchestrator of Oman's green hydrogen industry — has announced the launch of a Single Permit System designed to streamline the approvals process. The announcement was made during a webinar held last week to launch Oman's third green hydrogen auction round. A land block of up to 300 square kilometers near the Special Economic Zone at Duqm is being prepared, with Hydrom inviting proposals for projects covering a minimum of 100 square kilometers. Traditionally, developers seeking to secure access to land for project development have had to engage with over a dozen government ministries and agencies. In a bid to simplify this often cumbersome process, Hydrom has now introduced a one-stop system. Eng. Abdulaziz Said al Shidhani, Managing Director of Hydrom, explained that the Single Permit System was one of the key outcomes of the National Green Hydrogen Ecosystem Readiness Laboratory, held last September in collaboration with the Ministry of Energy and Minerals and the Oman Vision 2040 Implementation Follow-Up Unit. 'With the support of the entire ecosystem, we have reached a point where we can issue a single automatic permit on the day of award, granting developers immediate access to their allocated land — without the need to knock on the doors of the individual authorities that typically issue these approvals,' he stated. Entities traditionally involved in the permitting process include the Ministry of Energy and Minerals, Ministry of Housing and Urban Planning, Environment Authority, Public Authority for Special Economic Zones and Free Zones (OPAZ), Ministry of Defence, Civil Aviation Authority, Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries and Water Resources, Nama Group, Authority for Public Services Regulation, Ministry of Commerce, Industry and Investment Promotion, Royal Oman Police (ROP) – Customs and Security Divisions, Asyad Group / Port Authorities, among others. 'Of course, developers still have certain obligations to fulfill, but we believe the Single Permit System will significantly reduce administrative complexity and save valuable time, enabling developers to begin their activities much sooner,' added Eng. Abdulaziz. In another notable update to the auction format, Hydrom announced that it is now exploring the possibility of allowing developers to sell surplus renewable electricity — a feature not available in earlier auction rounds. If approved, this move could substantially enhance the investment appeal of green hydrogen projects in Oman. Commenting on the potential policy shift, Eng. Abdulaziz said: 'For those who participated in Rounds 1 and 2, you'll recall that the sale of surplus electricity was restricted to connected industries. This time, we are open to exploring broader avenues for surplus power sales, provided two conditions are met: First, it must not affect the minimum hydrogen production targets set for each block; and second, the necessary regulatory approvals must be obtained under Oman's existing regulatory framework.'
Zawya
01-05-2025
- Business
- Zawya
Oman launches 3rd auction round for green hydrogen projects in Duqm area
Muscat – Oman on Wednesday launched its third green hydrogen auction round for projects in Duqm, marking a new chapter in its strategy to become a leading global hub for green hydrogen production and export. Designed and orchestrated by Hydrom, the third auction offers innovative and flexible opportunities for qualified developers to invest in Oman's fast-growing hydrogen ecosystem and participate in building a competitive and scalable global green hydrogen economy. Building on the success of previous auction rounds, the third auction round incorporates lessons learnt to optimise bidder participation and enhance competitiveness. A land block of up to 300 sq km has been offered in Duqm, inviting proposals for projects covering a minimum of 100 sq km, according to a statement released by Hydrom. Bidders will have flexibility in defining their project footprint within the block, enabling tailored configurations that align with individual development strategies and market requirements. Bidders will benefit from an extended preparation period of nine months from the launch of the Request for Qualification (RFQ) to the bid submission deadline, providing ample time for comprehensive project planning. The auction process commenced recently with the release of the Request for Qualifaction (RFQ). Qualified bidders will be invited to submit proposals in early 2026, with awards expected thereafter. In addition to producing green hydrogen and its derivatives, developers may also explore the sale of surplus renewable electricity to the national grid, subject to regulatory approvals, maximising project value and integration into Oman's wider energy transition framework. Eng Abdulaziz Said al Shidhani, Managing Director of Hydrom, said, 'Oman's green hydrogen sector has moved from ambition to structured delivery. Through an integrated approach that combines land allocation, common-use infrastructure, regulatory frameworks, and export corridors, we are building an investment-ready ecosystem that enables scalable, bankable projects.' 'The strong market response to our earlier auctions reflects a growing demand for credible, delivery-focused solutions. With the third round, we are expanding this platform to create greater opportunities for a broader pool of serious developers, maintaining our commitment to meet global energy transition priorities,' he added. Developers participating in the third round will benefit from Oman's strong competitive advantages, including access to common-use infrastructure, a stable regulatory framework, and strategic proximity to key demand centres in Europe and Asia. Oman's comprehensive energy transition efforts also include the development of a dedicated 2,000-km hydrogen pipeline as well as the establishment of the world's first liquid hydrogen export corridor linking Oman to the Netherlands and Germany and onwards to Europe. Oman's green hydrogen sector is a cornerstone of its commitment to achieving net-zero carbon emissions by 2050 and securing at least 30% of its power mix from renewables by 2030. To date, Oman has awarded eight large-scale green hydrogen projects in Duqm and Dhofar through two previous rounds, securing over $49bn in investment commitments targeting a combined production capacity of over 1mn tonnes per annum of green hydrogen by 2030. These projects, powered by more than 30 GW of renewable energy, position Oman among the most advanced and investment-ready hydrogen ecosystems globally. © Apex Press and Publishing Provided by SyndiGate Media Inc. (
Muscat Daily
30-04-2025
- Business
- Muscat Daily
Oman launches 3rd auction round for green hydrogen projects in Duqm area
Muscat – Oman on Wednesday launched its third green hydrogen auction round for projects in Duqm, marking a new chapter in its strategy to become a leading global hub for green hydrogen production and export. Designed and orchestrated by Hydrom, the third auction offers innovative and flexible opportunities for qualified developers to invest in Oman's fast-growing hydrogen ecosystem and participate in building a competitive and scalable global green hydrogen economy. Building on the success of previous auction rounds, the third auction round incorporates lessons learnt to optimise bidder participation and enhance competitiveness. A land block of up to 300 sq km has been offered in Duqm, inviting proposals for projects covering a minimum of 100 sq km, according to a statement released by Hydrom. Bidders will have flexibility in defining their project footprint within the block, enabling tailored configurations that align with individual development strategies and market requirements. Bidders will benefit from an extended preparation period of nine months from the launch of the Request for Qualification (RFQ) to the bid submission deadline, providing ample time for comprehensive project planning. The auction process commenced recently with the release of the Request for Qualifaction (RFQ). Qualified bidders will be invited to submit proposals in early 2026, with awards expected thereafter. In addition to producing green hydrogen and its derivatives, developers may also explore the sale of surplus renewable electricity to the national grid, subject to regulatory approvals, maximising project value and integration into Oman's wider energy transition framework. Eng Abdulaziz Said al Shidhani, Managing Director of Hydrom, said, 'Oman's green hydrogen sector has moved from ambition to structured delivery. Through an integrated approach that combines land allocation, common-use infrastructure, regulatory frameworks, and export corridors, we are building an investment-ready ecosystem that enables scalable, bankable projects.' 'The strong market response to our earlier auctions reflects a growing demand for credible, delivery-focused solutions. With the third round, we are expanding this platform to create greater opportunities for a broader pool of serious developers, maintaining our commitment to meet global energy transition priorities,' he added. Developers participating in the third round will benefit from Oman's strong competitive advantages, including access to common-use infrastructure, a stable regulatory framework, and strategic proximity to key demand centres in Europe and Asia. Oman's comprehensive energy transition efforts also include the development of a dedicated 2,000-km hydrogen pipeline as well as the establishment of the world's first liquid hydrogen export corridor linking Oman to the Netherlands and Germany and onwards to Europe. Oman's green hydrogen sector is a cornerstone of its commitment to achieving net-zero carbon emissions by 2050 and securing at least 30% of its power mix from renewables by 2030. To date, Oman has awarded eight large-scale green hydrogen projects in Duqm and Dhofar through two previous rounds, securing over $49bn in investment commitments targeting a combined production capacity of over 1mn tonnes per annum of green hydrogen by 2030. These projects, powered by more than 30 GW of renewable energy, position Oman among the most advanced and investment-ready hydrogen ecosystems globally.
Muscat Daily
18-02-2025
- Business
- Muscat Daily
Oman launches platform to track green hydrogen ecosystem readiness progress
Muscat – Oman's Green Hydrogen Ecosystem Readiness Steering Committee, chaired by H E Eng Salim bin Nasser al Aufi, Minister of Energy and Minerals and Chairman of Hydrom, has launched a dedicated digital gH2 Ecosystem Readiness monitoring platform called 'gHad'. The Hydrom-led initaitive is designed to track sector-wide progress, enhance collaboration, and provide real-time data-driven insights on key initiatives supproting the development of Oman's green hydrogen strategy. The platform builds on the outcomes of the Ecosystem Readiness Lab conducted in September 2024, which identified 26 key initiatives designed to deliver Oman's 2030 green hydrogen production targets. By digitalising sector-wide coordination, 'gHad' will move Oman's hydrogen strategy from planning to structured execution across five key focus areas including permits, contractors, workforce development, logistics, and local content. Eng Abdulaziz Said al Shidhani, Managing Director of Hydrom said, 'Ensuring the readiness of all supporting sectors is critical to delivering Oman's green hydrogen ambitions. ' gHad' is an integral tool to our joint success, providing us with a one-stop-shop to align efforts, address challenges early, and create the right conditions for large-scale project execution. With clear visibility on sector progress, we can support decision-making, strengthen investor confidence, and position Oman as a competitive player in the global hydrogen economy.' 'gHad' will serve as a centralised system, integrating key public and private sector stakeholders across multiple sectors, including government entities, infrastructure providers, workforce development institutions, local industries, and regulatory bodies. As Oman progresses towards becoming a global green hydrogen hub, the platform will play a pivitol role in enhancing governance, increasing transparency, and driving data-backed decision making. Hydrom serves as the national orchestrator of Oman's Green Hydrogen Strategy execution and Green Hydrogen economy development. Hydrom is also responsible for the structuring of large-scale green hydrogen projects, managing the allocation process to developers, and facilitating the development of shared infrastructure and connected ecosystem industries and hubs. Through its role, Hydrom is advancing In-country Value by generating employment, expanding educational resources and developing localised supply chains and industry-adjacent opportunities across the value chain.
