Interview: Abdulaziz Al Shidhani
How is Oman leveraging the land allocated for green hydrogen projects to drive investment and accelerate large-scale production?
ABDULAZIZ AL SHIDHANI: The 50,000 sq km allocated for green hydrogen is situated within a broader 65,000-sq-km zone earmarked by legislation to support the sultanate’s energy transition plans. This step laid the groundwork for a national green hydrogen strategy. We have completed a comprehensive master planning exercise for the plot of land, providing critical insights into resource availability, infrastructure needs and environmental constraints. Land is allocated through structured auction rounds, with development tracked via a digital platform that monitors permitting, logistics and ecosystem readiness. This planning provides a clear roadmap to accelerate development, reduce risk, and attract long-term investment. Our structured production target starts at 1m tonnes of green hydrogen annually by 2030, rising to 8.5m tonnes by 2050. – using just one-third of the designated land, leaving headroom to scale further if global demand increases.
What steps will ensure that the $49bn worth of green hydrogen projects translates into long-term economic and industrial diversification?
AL SHIDHANI: From the outset, hydrogen development has been aligned with Oman Vision 2040’s goals of economic diversification, industrialisation, and human capital growth. Awarded project funds are not just for energy exports – they are catalysts for broader transformation. Local sourcing, workforce training, and supply chain development are key priorities. All awarded projects include binding In-Country Value and Omanisation requirements, and we are already witnessing early signs of this shift. Strategic clustering within Salalah and Duqm free zones supports clean industrial activity, including early manufacturing related to wind turbines and solar panels. Infrastructure upgrades – such as expanded port operations – are also advancing, designed to stimulate industrial activity beyond energy exports.
To what extent will partnerships with global technology firms strengthen Oman’s position within the hydrogen value chain?
AL SHIDHANI: While Oman offers strategic advantages in terms of land, renewable resources and geography, technology localisation – particularly for electrolysers – will elevate our role in the hydrogen value chain. Structured engagement with global firms is already under way, with early partnerships exploring local assembly and future manufacturing potential. This is complemented by existing industrial capabilities, such as cable and materials production, that can be expanded to support hydrogen infrastructure. These efforts also aim to develop long-term servicing and workforce training capabilities, helping attract high-impact investment and transfer of know-how.
Where are the most significant opportunities for integrating wind and solar energy capacity within Oman’s broader energy transition strategy?
AL SHIDHANI: The sultanate’s planned 4.5 GW of renewables – part of 34.8 GW from awarded green hydrogen projects – forms the foundation of a resilient, diversified energy system. Integration begins by ensuring that alignment occurs between stakeholders. We initiated a multi-sector ecosystem readiness workshop with over 50 public entities to identify challenges and opportunities in infrastructure, permitting and logistics, resulting in 26 actionable initiatives to streamline delivery across the hydrogen ecosystem. For example, accommodating thousands of wind turbine components requires new logistics solutions, generating demand for heavy transport, local assembly and warehousing. Solar and wind projects support the decarbonisation of the national grid, enhance energy security and reduce conventional fuel dependence.
