Latest news with #AlAufi
Observer
3 days ago
- Business
- Observer
Oman's first renewable energy storage project imminent
MUSCAT: The Sultanate of Oman is making significant efforts to implement green energy projects, as "Oman Vision 2040" aims for these projects to contribute nearly 30 per cent of the country's total electricity generation by 2030. Eng Salim bin Nasser al Aufi, Minister of Energy and Minerals, revealed that five to six new renewable energy projects — focused on wind and solar power — will commence this year, with particular emphasis on wind energy due to Oman's strong potential in this sector. Eng Salim bin Nasser al Aufi, Minister of Energy and Minerals Al Aufi noted that these projects will be located in various sites where wind energy has been measured, mostly in the Al Wusta and Dhofar governorates. They are expected to begin production by the end of 2027, generating over 2,000 megawatts. He affirmed that the Ministry of Energy and Minerals is collaborating with its partners in Nama Group and the Authority for Public Services Regulation to explore the best methods for storing renewable energy, whether through conventional or innovative approaches applicable in Oman. He also confirmed that an announcement regarding Oman's first renewable energy storage project will be made soon. The minister added that these projects will strengthen Oman's transition to renewable energy while creating vast opportunities for industries reliant on clean and sustainable power. He highlighted that Oman has already launched the "Manah 1" and "Manah 2" renewable energy plants, with a combined capacity of around 1,000 megawatts. Initial results indicate that each plant is producing over 500 megawatts, exceeding expectations. Furthermore, he explained that the Ministry of Energy and Minerals, the Ministry of Transport, Communications and Information Technology; and Petroleum Development Oman (PDO) are working to establish a hydrogen pathway by setting up production and supply stations within concession areas. This initiative aims to use hydrogen as fuel for trucks operating between these zones. — ONA
Zawya
28-04-2025
- Business
- Zawya
Oman to continue oil and gas production with cleaner approach
MUSCAT: Oman's Minister of Energy and Minerals, Eng Salim Nasser al Aufi, emphasised the Sultanate of Oman's continued commitment to producing oil and gas as long as there is a global need for these resources, but with a key distinction: the nation will adopt cleaner, more sustainable methods for their production. Taking part in a panel discussion at the Advantage Oman Forum on Sunday, Al Aufi explained that Oman will balance its ambitious energy transition targets with a commitment to producing oil and gas in an environmentally responsible manner. "While we are not stopping or slowing down hydrocarbon production, we will do so in a much cleaner way," Al Aufi remarked. "For instance, we have set a target to eliminate routine flaring by 2030, and we are working to reduce methane emissions in the same timeframe." Al Aufi also shared details of Oman's ongoing energy transition, highlighting the integration of renewable energy solutions into the oil and gas sector. As part of this effort, oil and gas companies are being encouraged to adopt renewables to power their hydrocarbon operations, transitioning away from traditional electricity sources. Solar thermal energy is also being harnessed to support enhanced oil recovery (EOR) operations in some parts of the country, he added. Methanation—the process of converting carbon dioxide into methane through hydrogenation—is another area under active exploration. An initial pilot project will focus on using CO₂ collected from industries and combining it with hydrogen to create synthetic natural gas for potential use in LNG production, Al Aufi explained. In his comments, Al Aufi also reaffirmed Oman's commitment to greener mobility solutions. The country is actively pursuing hydrogen-powered and electric vehicles to reduce the carbon impact of transport within the oil and gas sector. The government is in the final stages of assessing hydrogen trucking, while electric vehicles are being introduced for short-distance travel. Significantly, the government is also focusing on CO₂ capture and sequestration to reduce emissions from industries that are difficult to decarbonize. Through advanced projects, Oman is capturing CO₂ and storing it underground, with initial pilots showing that 60-70 per cent of the CO₂ injected stays sequestered, further advancing the country's climate goals. These initiatives are part of Oman's broader circular economy approach, where waste is minimized, and existing resources are re-used to create additional value. For example, gas that was once flared is now being used to generate electricity, cutting emissions while increasing efficiency across industrial operations. "We are not just reducing waste; we are creating new economic opportunities for Oman," Al Aufi concluded, underscoring the importance of balancing economic growth with sustainability. Also taking part in the panel discussion were Dr Abdullah al Amri, Chairman – Environment Authority, Hilmi Panigoro, President-Director – MedcoEnergi, and Luigi Di Maio, EU Special Representative for the GCC. Najla al Jamali, Chief Executive – OQ Alternative Energy, moderated the session. 2022 © All right reserved for Oman Establishment for Press, Publication and Advertising (OEPPA) Provided by SyndiGate Media Inc. (
Observer
27-04-2025
- Business
- Observer
Oman to continue oil and gas production with cleaner approach
MUSCAT: Oman's Minister of Energy and Minerals, Eng Salim Nasser al Aufi, emphasised the Sultanate of Oman's continued commitment to producing oil and gas as long as there is a global need for these resources, but with a key distinction: the nation will adopt cleaner, more sustainable methods for their production. Taking part in a panel discussion at the Advantage Oman Forum on Sunday, Al Aufi explained that Oman will balance its ambitious energy transition targets with a commitment to producing oil and gas in an environmentally responsible manner. "While we are not stopping or slowing down hydrocarbon production, we will do so in a much cleaner way," Al Aufi remarked. "For instance, we have set a target to eliminate routine flaring by 2030, and we are working to reduce methane emissions in the same timeframe." Al Aufi also shared details of Oman's ongoing energy transition, highlighting the integration of renewable energy solutions into the oil and gas sector. As part of this effort, oil and gas companies are being encouraged to adopt renewables to power their hydrocarbon operations, transitioning away from traditional electricity sources. Solar thermal energy is also being harnessed to support enhanced oil recovery (EOR) operations in some parts of the country, he added. Methanation—the process of converting carbon dioxide into methane through hydrogenation—is another area under active exploration. An initial pilot project will focus on using CO₂ collected from industries and combining it with hydrogen to create synthetic natural gas for potential use in LNG production, Al Aufi explained. In his comments, Al Aufi also reaffirmed Oman's commitment to greener mobility solutions. The country is actively pursuing hydrogen-powered and electric vehicles to reduce the carbon impact of transport within the oil and gas sector. The government is in the final stages of assessing hydrogen trucking, while electric vehicles are being introduced for short-distance travel. Significantly, the government is also focusing on CO₂ capture and sequestration to reduce emissions from industries that are difficult to decarbonize. Through advanced projects, Oman is capturing CO₂ and storing it underground, with initial pilots showing that 60-70 per cent of the CO₂ injected stays sequestered, further advancing the country's climate goals. These initiatives are part of Oman's broader circular economy approach, where waste is minimized, and existing resources are re-used to create additional value. For example, gas that was once flared is now being used to generate electricity, cutting emissions while increasing efficiency across industrial operations. "We are not just reducing waste; we are creating new economic opportunities for Oman," Al Aufi concluded, underscoring the importance of balancing economic growth with sustainability. Also taking part in the panel discussion were Dr Abdullah al Amri, Chairman – Environment Authority, Hilmi Panigoro, President-Director – MedcoEnergi, and Luigi Di Maio, EU Special Representative for the GCC. Najla al Jamali, Chief Executive – OQ Alternative Energy, moderated the session.
Observer
14-04-2025
- Business
- Observer
Wind Turbines Factory Launched in SEZAD
Muscat - A specialised factory for the manufacturing of wind turbines is set to be established in the Special Economic Zone at Duqm (SEZAD), marking a significant step in advancing Oman's renewable energy ambitions. The facility is expected to play a key role in supporting the Sultanate of Oman's future clean energy projects by supplying locally manufactured turbines for wind farms across the country. Mawarid Turbine Company today celebrated the launch of the first phase of the facility, which will have an annual production capacity of up to 1,000 megawatts (MW). The investment for the first phase is expected to exceed $200 million. The plant is scheduled to begin commercial operations in 2026, becoming the region's first hub for wind turbine manufacturing and contributing to the localisation of renewable energy technology. It is expected to create approximately 1,080 job opportunities. Eng. Salim Nasser Al Aufi, Minister of Energy and Minerals, who presided over the inauguration ceremony, said the factory would play a key role in supporting Oman's wind energy development, with an annual capacity of 1,000 MW. 'This will support many ambitious projects planned for implementation over the next two years. We hope the first phase of the factory will begin production by the end of next year,' he said. Al Aufi added that the main aim of establishing the factory is to supply wind power plants, with production beginning in mid-2026. 'It will also supply materials for wind energy projects currently under construction, while creating employment opportunities for job seekers. The project reflects Oman's commitment to transitioning to renewable and clean energy.' project represents a significant milestone – the first of its kind in the region – in the field of wind turbine manufacturing and the localisation of integrated renewable energy technologies. 'The project is confidently moving towards building strategic partnerships based on industrial integration, technological innovation, and knowledge transfer. The launch of the first phase will help reduce costs and logistical expenses, while providing high-efficiency products to both local and international markets. It will also open broad prospects for exporting Omani expertise and products, create numerous direct and indirect job opportunities, enhance local content, and increase value addition,' he said. Once completed, it will become the first wind turbine manufacturing hub in the region, aligning with Oman's broader strategy to localise renewable energy technology and bolster its clean energy infrastructure. The inauguration ceremony witnessed the signing of several agreements and memoranda of cooperation. The first and second agreements – between Mawarid Turbine and Shanghai Electric Wind Power Group – cover technology licensing, a research centre, knowledge transfer, preliminary and technical design of manufacturing systems, and the supply of wind turbines for several pilot wind farms. The agreements were signed by Mustafa Mohammed Al Hinai, CEO of Mawarid Turbine, and Wang Yong, President of Shanghai Electric Wind Power Group. Wu Lei, Charmain of Shanghai Electric Group, who witnessed the signing ceremony, said that this strategic partnership reflects the strong cooperative relationship between Oman and China, underpinned by longstanding historical ties. He emphasised that the project would support the transfer of advanced technologies and attract high-quality investments to Oman, while also contributing to the country's sustainable energy transformation, energy security, and the development of a knowledge- and innovation-based economy. A third agreement was signed between Mawarid Turbine and CID (Gulf) for the detailed design of the Mawarid Turbine factory for manufacturing wind turbine components in Duqm. It was signed by Al Hinai and Tariq Najib Al Khonji, CEO of CID (Gulf). Additionally, Mawarid Turbine and OQ Group signed a MoU to establish a wind turbine manufacturing plant in Duqm. The MoU was signed by Al Hinai and Ashraf Hamad al Maamari, CEO of OQ Group. In a separate development, a memorandum of cooperation was signed between the Ministry of Labour, the Authority for Public Services Regulations (APSR) and Mawarid Turbine Company to train and qualify the first batch of 350 national job seekers, equipping them with the skills required to occupy technical and specialised positions in the renewable energy manufacturing sector. - ONA
Zawya
03-03-2025
- Business
- Zawya
Oman's first green hydrogen project FID in 2026-27
Oman - The first Final Investment Decision (FID) is anticipated during the 2026-27 timeframe by one of the consortiums awarded mandates to develop green hydrogen (GH2) projects in the Sultanate of Oman. As many as eight consortiums have secured land blocks over the past two years to invest in large-scale green hydrogen schemes in the central and southern parts of Oman. They will collectively target the production of at least 1 million tonnes of green hydrogen by 2030 to support the country's transition to a low-carbon energy future. Speaking at the 'Together We Progress' forum, hosted by the General Secretariat of the Council of Ministers over the weekend, Eng Salim bin Nasser al Aufi, Minister of Energy and Minerals, noted that the maiden FID – a critical milestone effectively enabling a project to progress from planning to execution – provides assurance that Oman's incipient green hydrogen journey is still on track. The note of optimism comes against a flurry of global developments and policy reversals by countries, such as the United States, which is seeking to dial back its commitments to clean energy alternatives. On Wednesday, energy supermajor BP also announced a 'reset' in its much-heralded switch to renewables and clean energy. Sharing his thoughts on other developments across the energy and minerals landscape, Al Aufi emphasised that Oman will continue to produce and export oil as long as 'production costs do not exceed the selling price in the global market'. Furthermore, with private upstream players accounting for most of the investments in the oil and gas sector, the government is spared any significant burden in budgeting for hydrocarbon expenditures, he noted. In the renewables sphere, developments have been overall positive, particularly in the wake of new solar projects coming on stream. In 2024, renewable electricity accounted for an average 9 per cent of total consumption during the year, reaching as much as 32 per cent on some days of the year. The national goal is to achieve an average 30 per cent from renewables annually by 2030, he said. Wind power Importantly, renewable energy capacity is set to be further bolstered this year with the planned award of contracts for four new wind-powered Independent Power Projects (IPPs) at various locations around the country. Turning to the burgeoning minerals sector, the official noted that a new investment strategy now governs the exploitation of minerals in the country. While concession agreements cover the development of sites known for metallic mineral deposits, general sites are awarded for the mining of non-metallic minerals and building materials. 'We started with 12 concession areas awarded to Minerals Development Oman (MDO) in cooperation with Oman Investment Authority, as these concession areas require intensive exploration operations. Previously, the areas were limited to small areas not exceeding 5 km2 and only one mineral was allowed to be extracted. Now, they have been given a longer period of 5-6 years for exploration and then 25 years for investment. The policy we have adopted has led to the export of copper concentrate for the first time in 10-15 years, which means that it is successful and attractive for investment and there is great demand from local and international companies,' said Al Aufi. As for the presence of associated gold found with the copper deposits, the Minister noted that the quantities are so small that the cost of extracting and refining the precious metal would be unfeasible. Instead, the gold is left in place to help increase the value of copper concentrate exports. 2022 © All right reserved for Oman Establishment for Press, Publication and Advertising (OEPPA) Provided by SyndiGate Media Inc. ( CONRAD PRABHU
