Latest news with #RumaithaAlBusaidi
Zawya
30-04-2025
- Business
- Zawya
Oman releases RFQs for third green hydrogen auction round
Hydrom, which is tasked with the development of green hydrogen industry in Oman, has released the RFQ (Request for Qualification) for the third green hydrogen auction round. The RFP (Request for Proposal) is expected to be sent out to qualified applicants by mid-June 2025, with bid submission scheduled for end January 2026 and award by the second quarter of 2026. Hydrom has made available 300 square kilometres (sq km) of land about 100 kilometres away from the Special Economic Zone of Duqm (SEZAD) for the third round of green hydrogen auctions. Developers can select their preferred site and land size within a defined 300 sq km block starting from a minimum of 100 sq km, a different approach from the fixed land allocation model followed in previous auctions. The minimum green hydrogen production expected for a 100 sq km land parcel is 50,000 tonnes per annum. Hydrom clarified that phased execution is not permitted within the awarded block and applicants can request additional lands for future expansions. 'The land lease will be available for 47 years from the project development and land sub-usufruct award, i.e 7 years for construction and 40 years for operation', said Rumaitha Al Busaidi, Business and ICV (In country value) Development manager. Hydrom will charge land fees for the used part once production begins apart from base royalties and upside fees. Corporate taxes will also apply, she clarified. It also reserves the 'back in right' to acquire a share in the project company. In a departure from previous auction rounds, Hydrom will explore the option to supply excess green electricity to the grid subject to regulatory approvals. The entity expects developers to set up projects for producing green hydrogen or derivatives for supply to local industries or exports. Hydrom will provide shared infrastructure to project companies which is currently in the pre-FEED stage. Final Investment Decision (FID) for the common use infrastructure is expected by 2027 and commissioning by 2030. The projects are expected to benefit from the development of a dedicated 2,000-kilometre 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 has awarded eight large-scale green hydrogen projects in Duqm and Dhofar through two previous rounds, securing over $49 billion in investment commitments targeting a combined production capacity of over 1 million tonnes per annum of green hydrogen by 2030. These projects will be powered by more than 30 gigawatts (GW) of renewable energy. (Reporting by Sowmya Sundar; Editing by Anoop Menon)
Observer
16-04-2025
- Business
- Observer
Oman leads a global first in Hydrogen
There are moments in one's career that feel heavy with meaning. Not because of the titles in the room, but because of the quiet sense that something lasting is being built. For me, that moment came this Tuesday in Amsterdam. It was my first time participating in a state visit representing my home. The occasion was the historic visit of His Majesty Sultan Haitham bin Tarik to the Kingdom of the Netherlands. On the sidelines of that grand diplomacy, something deeply personal unfolded. A project I had been patiently building for nearly two years came to life in the form of a world-first agreement. For 23 months, I have been part of the team behind what is now the first liquid hydrogen corridor globally. From the deserts of Al Duqm to the port of Amsterdam and the industrial landscapes of Germany, we brought together every piece of the value chain. Production, liquefaction, shipping, import terminals and offtake were all aligned through one unified vision. What began as a shared ambition among a handful of determined partners is now a signed commitment among eleven entities representing three nations. After the signing, I had the rare honour of meeting Their Majesties, the Sultan of Oman and the King of the Netherlands, in a networking reception. I stood there not just as a delegate, but as someone who had helped build this bridge from an idea into something real. And in that moment, I had the privilege to share with them a quiet but powerful truth. This was the first of its kind in the world. A global first. A moment where Oman, the Netherlands and Germany were not following a trend, but setting one. It is difficult to describe the weight of that moment. To stand in front of two monarchs and articulate a vision that has consumed nearly two years of your life. But what I felt most was clarity. This was not about ceremony. This was about legacy. This corridor is not just about molecules. It is about meaning. It is about how nations can come together to solve shared challenges. It is about showing the world that Oman is not only ready to participate in the energy transition but to lead it with purpose. At the heart of the project lies Duqm, soon to be home to the largest hydrogen liquefaction, storage and export terminal in the world. By 2030, it will deliver green, RFNBO-compliant hydrogen directly to Europe. Around it, new industries will grow. Jobs will be created. Value will be generated. The impact will ripple across borders. Liquid hydrogen is not new. It has fuelled spacecraft for decades. What is new is our decision to scale it here on Earth. Not for exploration, but for decarbonisation. Not for propulsion, but for transformation. As I left that room, I carried more than pride. I carried a stillness. A quiet recognition that 23 months of effort had led to something real. Something historic. And I knew, without doubt, that this was only the beginning. Rumaitha Al Busaidi The writer is an environmental strategist and advocate for sustainable development, focusing on climate change impacts in the Middle East and women's empowerment in environmental solutions
