Diplomatic World_69

projects and the mechanism of its production, transport and
first phase, upscaling of the installation is also foreseen.
export, benefiting from it locally and benefiting from modern
ration of its factory in the Special Economic Zone of Duqm. The
factory represents a qualitative leap in the Omani industry and a
GREEN HYDROGEN: THE FUTURE
technologies in its development, and work is underway to
maximise its benefit by facilitating investments and bringing in
expertise in the field of green hydrogen.
The Public Authority for Special Economic Zones and Free Zones
(OPAZ) is extending its full support in facilitating the implementation
of the project in the Special Economic Zone at Duqm. A site
good addition to boost the added value of the industrial sector in
Oman is blessed with sunny and clear weather in most days of
has been reserved with OPAZ to allow the installation of a solar
the Zone. In addition, it contributed to bringing modern technolo-
the year, which makes the region attractive for investment in so-
The Special Economic Zone at Duqm provides a strategic and
and wind park on a site ideally located along the windy Omani
gies that help establish small and medium enterprises in Duqm.
lar energy. Some studies indicate that the areas of the Sultanate
competitive location to develop large-scale green hydrogen
coast and Arabian Sea.
overlooking the Arabian Sea are considered one of the best areas
production, given its centrality to global trade, the favourable
Karwa Bus Factory is equipped to manufacture electric buses in
for the use of wind energy in the world.
wind and solar resources, the existing large port facilities and
In addition, OPAZ is coordinating with all the government related
the future, as the factory’s facilities have been designed to go in
the proximity to a booming industrial zone.
entities to allow for a smart usage of the infrastructure that is be-
line with this trend and the changes taking place in this sector.
Wind energy plays a pivotal role in raising the efficiency of green
ing set up in the Special Economic Zone at Duqm. This includes
hydrogen production, as it raises production levels to comple-
One of the important projects in the Sultanate of Oman at the
access to high voltage power lines, access to the sea water in-
Built on an area of 568,000 squared metres, the factory is
ment the role of solar energy when it is not available. Therefore,
present time is the Hyport Duqm project, which aims to produce
take for the generation of demineralized water and access to the
designed to manufacture three different types of buses - city,
the Sultanate is considered a major destination when talking
green hydrogen from renewable energy. It is hoped that this
Duqm Port for the export of green hydrogen and its derivatives.
school and intercity – ranging in size from 8 m to 12 m. The fac-
about green hydrogen, as it announced in August last year the
project and future hydrogen projects will enhance the port of
tory recently started exporting the first batch of buses to Qatar
establishment of a national alliance for green hydrogen, called
Duqm as a front and a commercial location for the exchange and
For more information on the Port of Duqm:
for the purpose of using them in the World Cup 2022, presented
“Hi Fly”.
distribution of green hydrogen.
https://www.portofduqm.om/
as a milestone in the largest global event in the region.
The alliance included 13 institutions from public and private
The facility will significantly contribute to the decarbonisation of
For more information on the Special Economic Zone at Duqm
It is noteworthy that developing Karwa Motors project com-
sectors. A number of government agencies, educational and
the regional industry in Oman, as well as providing green hydro-
(SEZAD): https://duqm.gov.om/en/sezad
menced on the ground in 2019, and despite the challenges
research institutions, oil and gas operators and others from the
gen and/or derivatives (such as green ammonia) to international
imposed by Covid-19, the project was able, in November 2021,
ports sector are also included. The alliance is working on several
customers in Europe. The envisaged electrolyser capacity for a
All photos: Diplomatic World
to produce the first “made in the Sultanate of Oman” bus.
aspects, most notably supporting clean hydrogen production
first phase is estimated between 250 and 500 MW. Following this
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