MUSCAT : Represented by the Ministry of Energy and Minerals, Oman’s membership will enhance international cooperation in hydrogen technologies and support their wider deployment across sectors including transportation, industry, power generation and energy storage.

The move is expected to further consolidate Oman’s growing role in green hydrogen and its derivatives while supporting the country’s wider economic and development ambitions.

The Ministry said joining the partnership represents a strategic step towards achieving the objectives of Oman Vision 2040, particularly economic diversification built around knowledge, innovation and sustainability.

Membership will enable Oman to deepen cooperation with other participating countries and benefit from international best practices in developing hydrogen policies, regulatory frameworks and technical standards.

It will also support efforts to connect local hydrogen projects with global markets and help develop green hydrogen value chains, harmonise standards, specifications and safety requirements and facilitate international trade in hydrogen and its derivatives.

Oman will also be able to participate more actively in research, development and innovation programmes, joint pilot projects and international capacity-building initiatives.

These opportunities are expected to contribute to developing specialised national skills and preparing the workforce required to support the growth of the hydrogen economy while attracting high-quality investments into the sector.

The move comes as Oman continues to capitalise on its significant solar and wind energy resources to build an integrated green hydrogen ecosystem, supporting sustainable development, carbon neutrality goals and a greater contribution from the energy sector to the national economy.

Minister of Energy and Minerals H.E. Eng. Salim bin Nasser Al Aufi described Oman’s accession as an important milestone in the Sultanate’s journey towards building a hydrogen economy.

He said Oman is seeking to establish a globally competitive green hydrogen economy and looks forward to contributing to international efforts that drive innovation, strengthen collaboration, develop national capabilities and establish the policies and standards needed for a flexible and sustainable global hydrogen market.

Paulo Emilio Valladão de Miranda, President of the International Partnership for Hydrogen and Fuel Cells in the Economy, welcomed Oman’s membership, saying the partnership continues to attract countries committed to developing the global hydrogen economy.

He highlighted Oman’s ambitions in low-emission hydrogen, its strong renewable energy potential and its focus on developing large-scale production and export opportunities.

He added that Oman brings valuable expertise and perspectives in infrastructure, international markets and the development of policies and standards, which can contribute to building a more resilient and sustainable global hydrogen economy.

Meanwhile, Dr. Laurent Antoni, Executive Director of the partnership, said Oman’s accession represents an important addition to the international hydrogen community.

He said the Sultanate combines significant renewable energy potential with an ambitious hydrogen development programme and a clear focus on building the capacity and regulatory frameworks required for a new industry.

“We look forward to working with the Sultanate of Oman and facilitating the exchange of experiences with other members of the Partnership,” he said, particularly as countries work to address common challenges involving infrastructure, standards, skills and the development of international hydrogen markets.

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