Oman seeks proposals for green hydrogen projects in first auction

Oman is inviting developers to submit proposals for large-scale integrated projects for green hydrogen in the Duqm area as part of the first round of a public auction.

Hydrom, the state-run company established to support the development of green hydrogen in the Sultanate, has issued a request for proposals (RfP) for two blocks with an area of 320 sq km (123.6 sq mi) each in Duqm, central Oman.

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The RfP follows a request for qualifications (RfQ) that was issued in November.

Interested developers must submit projects covering the full green hydrogen value chain, including wind and solar production at a competitive cost, hydrogen production and hydrogen derivatives conversion. The developers are expected also to secure the offtake for the plants.

The winners in the first round will be announced in March.

A second round of the auction will follow in 2023, seeking to award an additional two to four blocks in the Dhofar area in the south by the end of the year.

The auction is part of Oman's hydrogen strategy that was unveiled in October. The Arab country aims to produce between 1 million and 1.25 million tonnes of green hydrogen annually by 2030 to meet local demand and for export. Duqm is one of three areas along with Dhofar and Al-Djazir that were designated to host hydrogen projects.