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SEZAD’s Greatest Contribution To Oman’s Energy Sustainability Goal | |
| Sumita Pawar |
According to Dr. Ali Masoud al Sunaidy (Chairman of the Public Authority for Special Economic Zones and Free Zones), the Special Economic Zone at Duqm (SEZAD) is poised to make the greatest contribution to Oman’s energy sustainability goals.
In an interview, Dr. Al Sunaidy highlighted the importance of SEZAD in the nation’s green hydrogen strategy.
This interview shows how important it is for OPAZ, its SEZs, and its free zones to set aside large areas of land for the downstream, upstream, and midstream parts of the Sultanate of Oman's growing number of green hydrogen projects.
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"Duqm will be the largest contributor to sustainability on a larger scale." 250 sq km have been allocated for solar and wind farms that will produce green ammonia and hydrogen for local consumption.
"Two licences have already been granted." "One licence is in the process of implementing a 300MW plant, while the other is undergoing detailed studies to determine if it is possible to build a larger one." Dr. Al Sunaidy explained.
The report further stated that the Green Hydrogen and Chemicals Company, a joint venture of the UK unit of Indian energy developer ACME Group and Scatec ASA in Norway, announced last month that it is developing Oman’s first green energy venture in the SEZ.
Phase 1 aims to produce 100,000 metric tonnes of green ammonia per year.
The second phase will see green ammonia production grow 12-fold to approximately 1.2 million metric tonnes per year.
Dr. Al Sunaidy pointed out that a revision of SEZAD’s master plan is underway, which will allow for the creation of utility corridors and other infrastructure in support of major green energy investments.
According to him, they are revising the master plan to build large enough new corridors through the SEZ at Duqm.
This will allow electricity to be transported into the city and vice versa. Pipe corridors will also allow for the transfer of green hydrogen molecules if they are produced in the concession areas around Duqm.
It can then be brought into the port area to either be used locally or converted into green ammonia for export. "These same corridors will permit the pumping and transport of desalinated waters from the beaches to the locations of solar or wind farms," he said.