Hydrom: Spearheading Oman’s green hydrogen push

Speaking to Energy Oman, Dr. Firas Al-Abduwani, Acting Managing Director of Hydrom, provides exclusive insights into the Sultanate’s strategy to jumpstart the growth of a nascent green hydrogen industry based on a unique and globally path-breaking regulatory model.

Oman’s historic and burgeoning green hydrogen quest is well and truly off the starting blocks.
Since the start of the Round 1 auction process on 6th November 2022, registrations for qualification for the first two green hydrogen blocks in Duqm have been streaming in from prospective bidders from around the world.

Hydrogen Oman LLC (Hydrom), the state-owned company assigned the role of orchestrating the growth and development of the Sultanate’s green hydrogen industry, has confirmed that the initial results from the competitive bidding process have been heartening.
“The public auctions are progressing quite well,” said Dr. Firas Al-Abduwani, Acting Managing Director – Hydrom. “So far (17th November 2022), we have had more than 160 registered parties expressing interest, of which around 30 are renowned bidders.

Looking at these figures and where we are in the auction process we have a healthy number to kick off this round. “Up for grabs in this round – one of two that constitute Phase A of the public auctions programme – is a pair of blocks, each of around 320 sq. kilometers, in Duqm, not far from a massive Special Economic Zone (SEZ) in Oman’s Al Wusta Governorate. Awards for these blocks are due to be announced in March 2023.