The two-day Green Hydrogen Summit kicked off at the OCEC under the auspices of the Ministry of Energy and Minerals, in the presence of His Excellency Engineer Salem bin Nasser Al-Awfi, Minister of Energy and Minerals, a number of Their Excellencies, as well as experts, investors, and consultants in the field of green hydrogen.
The conference began with a welcoming speech presented by Eng. Mazen Al-Lamki, CEO of Energy Development Oman, followed by the opening statement delivered by His Excellency Eng. Salem bin Nasser Al-Aufi, Minister of Energy and Minerals. Before the launch of the first session of the Oman Strategic Green Hydrogen Summit, entitled Green Hydrogen Economy and Strategy in the Sultanate of Oman, a number of additional speeches and a promotional video on the hydrogen sector in the Sultanate of Oman were presented. The second session was called the Global Hydrogen Review. Following that, an executive session titled "The Sultanate of Oman as a Global Player in the Field of Hydrogen" was held, during which His Excellency Eng. Salem bin Nasser Al Aufi, Minister of Energy and Minerals, as well as Ellen von Zitzewitz, Deputy Director of Bilateral Energy Cooperation, Federal Ministry for Economic Affairs and Climate Action (BMWK), and Steve Phimister, Director General of PDO, spoke. The conference then continued to convene panels to explore the Sultanate of Oman's position as a center for green hydrogen infrastructure.
Over the two days of the conference, the Summit shall feature 12 discussion panels and 6 technical workshops focusing on the Sultanate of Oman's green hydrogen economy and infrastructure strategy, the local added value in the green hydrogen chain, partnership and investment in the field, and green hydrogen projects in the Sultanate.
The conference will also cover a variety of topics, including how to strike a balance between short- and long-term sustainable energy goals and security, the importance of decarbonization in energy transition paths, the role of green hydrogen in ensuring the security and diversification of the world's energy supply, and its effect on both economic growth and environmental sustainability. Furthermore, it addresses the sector's development, investment opportunities, and challenges.
The Sultanate of Oman aspires to be one of the world's leading suppliers of green hydrogen, and the Ministry of Energy and Minerals has been working on developing an ambitious strategy to assure the growth of a green hydrogen economy. It strives to promote this sector because of its positive influence on energy sources' diversification. It is a strategic opportunity for Omani and international businesses to collaborate and participate in ensuring local and global energy security and economic diversification.
The Green Hydrogen Summit also aligns with the Sultanate of Oman's targets for an energy transition that seeks to reduce carbon emissions while also reaching a balance between sustainable growth and reducing the impacts of climate change through the implementation of clean technologies and the diversification of energy sources. It also corresponds with the royal directives set forth in the decree calling for carbon neutrality by 2050 and the creation of the Oman Sustainability Center.
This summit follows the earlier launch of the Sultanate of Oman's national strategy for the gradual transition to carbon-neutrality, as well as the earlier launch of the national environmental policy for energy, and the pre-qualification stage for investors wishing to participate in the first round of investment opportunities in green hydrogen production projects via the Oman Hydrogen Company's "Hydrom" platform, which had been launched this month.
The summit's accompanying exhibition continues to draw visitors interested in learning about the projects, programs, and modern technologies that companies are working on in the hydrogen sector, as well as examining the existing experiences, projects, and modern technologies used in this field by the various participating international and local institutions. It lasts from 5 to 7 December 2022, hosting more than 30 local and international hydrogen-related businesses and organizations.