Oman Joins International Hydrogen Partnership to Accelerate Green Hydrogen Economy
Muscat, The Gulf Observer: The Sultanate of Oman, represented by the Ministry of Energy and Minerals, has joined the International Partnership for Hydrogen and Fuel Cells in the Economy (IPHE), marking a strategic step toward strengthening the country’s role in the global hydrogen economy.
The international partnership seeks to advance hydrogen and fuel-cell technologies and accelerate their adoption across key sectors, including transport, industry, power generation and energy storage.
Oman’s membership is expected to enhance international cooperation in green hydrogen and contribute to the development of a sustainable energy system, while supporting the Sultanate’s ambitions in hydrogen and hydrogen derivatives and its broader economic and development objectives.
The move also supports the objectives of Oman Vision 2040, particularly economic diversification based on knowledge, innovation and sustainability, while strengthening Oman’s participation in the emerging global hydrogen market.
Through IPHE membership, Oman will expand cooperation with member countries and benefit from international expertise in policy development, regulatory frameworks and technical standards. The partnership will also help link domestic hydrogen projects with international markets and support the development of green hydrogen value chains.
Cooperation under the partnership will include efforts to harmonize standards, specifications and safety requirements, as well as support international trade in hydrogen and its derivatives. Such coordination is expected to facilitate the safe, efficient and economically viable deployment of hydrogen and fuel-cell technologies.
Oman will also have greater opportunities to participate in research, development and innovation programmes and joint pilot projects, while benefiting from international capacity-building initiatives and efforts to develop specialized national skills.
These initiatives are expected to strengthen Oman’s technical expertise, support the development of the national hydrogen economy and help attract high-quality investments to the sector.
The membership builds on Oman’s ongoing efforts to develop its green hydrogen industry by utilizing the Sultanate’s abundant solar and wind resources and establishing an integrated ecosystem capable of supporting sustainable development and net-zero targets.
Eng. Salim bin Nasser Al Aufi, Minister of Energy and Minerals, highlighted the importance of Oman’s membership, reaffirming the Sultanate’s commitment to playing an active role in strengthening international cooperation in the hydrogen sector.
Al Aufi described the move as an important milestone in Oman’s efforts to establish a globally competitive hydrogen economy. He said Oman looks forward to contributing to international initiatives aimed at promoting innovation, strengthening cooperation, enhancing national capabilities and developing the policies and standards necessary for a resilient and sustainable global hydrogen market.
Paolo Emilio Valladao de Miranda, Chair of IPHE, welcomed Oman’s membership, saying the partnership continues to expand as more countries commit to advancing the global hydrogen economy.
He said Oman’s ambitious plans for low-emission hydrogen, strong renewable energy potential and focus on large-scale production and export opportunities make it a valuable addition to the partnership.
Valladao de Miranda added that Oman brings valuable expertise and perspectives in infrastructure, international markets, policymaking and standards, contributing to collective efforts to establish a resilient and sustainable global hydrogen economy.
Dr. Laurent Antoni, Executive Director of IPHE, also welcomed Oman’s accession, describing it as an important addition to the partnership’s international community.
He noted that Oman combines significant renewable energy potential with an ambitious hydrogen development programme and a clear focus on building the capabilities and regulatory frameworks needed to establish a new industry.
Antoni said IPHE looks forward to working closely with Oman and facilitating the exchange of expertise among member countries, particularly in addressing common challenges related to infrastructure, standards, skills development and the establishment of international hydrogen markets.
