Oman and the Netherlands are to press ahead with developing a liquid hydrogen trade corridor, two years after a joint study agreement was signed to explore its potential.
Under the new joint development agreement, the sultanate will look to export liquid hydrogen from Duqm port to the Port of Amsterdam for use in the Netherlands and Germany.
Hydrogen is to be shipped using cryogenic technologies developed by technology and UAE supply chain company Ecolog.
State-owned Hydrogen Oman (Hydrom) will oversee the project’s alignment with Oman’s wider hydrogen plans, with OQ Group expected to develop a liquid hydrogen terminal in Duqm.
Hydrom has awarded eight projects in just two years – with a potential 1.2 million tonnes of green hydrogen expected to be produced annually.
In Europe, local players will look to establish hydrogen regasification terminals in the Port of Amsterdam to allow the gas to be transported to users via pipelines, rail networks and waterways.
Oman Minister of Energy and Minerals Salim bin Nasser Al Aufi said the cooperation was a key step in Oman’s hydrogen plans.
“This will contribute to establishing an integrated national ecosystem and creating sustainable economic and developmental opportunities,” he said.
Two additional agreements were also signed, focused on studying hydrogen and CO2 pipelines and a partnership between OQ and Royal Vopak.
The Omani oil gas major and Dutch fuel handler will look to lead the development of the Port of Duqm as a “premier integrated hub” for fossil fuels, chemicals and low-carbon products.
The nation intends to establish up to 1.5 million tonnes of annual green hydrogen production capacity by 2030.
Europe is also looking to renewables-rich markets for much of its hydrogen supply, with ambitions of importing 10 million tonnes of green hydrogen by 2030.
