At the crossroads of accelerating the global energy structure towards low-carbon transformation, Gulf countries are reshaping their energy future with unprecedented strategic determination. On December 1, 2025, at the opening ceremony of the Oman Green Hydrogen Summit held in Muscat, Oman officially announced that its seven major green hydrogen projects are progressing as planned, with the goal of achieving an annual green hydrogen production of 1 million tons by 2030. This not only marks the transition of Oman's hydrogen energy strategy from blueprint planning to large-scale implementation, but also demonstrates the country's ambition to transform from a traditional oil and gas exporting country to a green energy hub in the global clean energy competition.

Regulatory framework drives industry milestones

In his speech at the summit, the Minister of Energy and Mines of Oman, Sheikh Salim bin Nasser Al Ofi, emphasized that the government has established "clear policies and a strong regulatory foundation" in recent years, aimed at paving the way for this rapidly growing industry. Abdul Aziz Al Sidani, Managing Director of Hydrom, further pointed out that Oman's national hydrogen energy framework is built around clear land use planning, policy certainty, and structured investment channels, and has now matured into a comprehensive system connecting infrastructure, regulation, and development pipelines.

The effectiveness of this framework is rapidly emerging. Within less than three years after the framework was established, Oman's hydrogen energy plan has entered the stage of coordinated implementation. Among the seven major projects, the ACME project located in Dukum has become the first large-scale development project to enter the construction phase and is seen as tangible evidence of the shift from strategy to implementation. The first phase of the project aims to achieve an annual production of 17000 tons of green hydrogen and 100000 tons of green ammonia by 2027, with significant expansion in subsequent phases. Xidani stated that with the investment of funds, equipment procurement, and construction progress, these projects are gradually reaching key milestones.

Oman's unique advantages and global positioning

Faced with the competitive trilemma faced by global green hydrogen producers - balancing costs, execution efficiency, and market proximity - Oman is seeking a solution with its unique endowment. In his keynote speech, Sidani analyzed that most markets can only meet two of these needs, and Oman, with its unique renewable resource potential, robust governance framework, and strategic geographical location adjacent to key markets, is expected to overcome all three challenges simultaneously.

Oman's ambition goes beyond domestic production. The summit, with the theme of bridging the gap and promoting action, brings together global policy makers, industry leaders, and investors to jointly examine regulations, evaluate market trends, and explore emerging investment opportunities. This reflects Oman's deep strategic intention to strengthen domestic and international energy security and position itself as a global hub for the low-carbon hydrogen industry. As reviewed by Energy Minister Ofi, Oman's energy development history has always been a process of turning challenges into opportunities - from decades ago when associated gas was transformed into the cornerstone of the global energy system, to today's pursuit of breakthroughs in the fields of solar, wind, and hydrogen energy. Keywords: Middle East news and information, Middle East international news

With the solid progress of the seven major projects, Oman is demonstrating to the world through practical actions that its role in the global green energy map will no longer be limited to resource supply, but will become a key force driving innovation in the hydrogen economy. The target of one million tons of hydrogen energy by 2030 is not only a production figure, but also a solemn declaration of this Gulf country towards the future energy era.Editor/Cheng Liting