Oman’s initiative to become a leading exporter of liquefied hydrogen (LH2) is progressing, with recent feasibility studies confirming the project’s viability. The project aims to establish a seamless export route from Oman to the Port of Amsterdam, enhancing the country’s role in the green hydrogen market.

At the World Hydrogen MENA Congress held in Dubai last week, Rumaitha al Busaidi, the Business and ICV Development Manager at Hydrom, reaffirmed Oman’s dedication to creating a comprehensive liquid hydrogen supply chain to cater to European markets. Al Busaidi emphasized that Oman is on track to become one of the world’s top producers of green hydrogen by 2030, stating, “We think liquid hydrogen can work, it is feasible.” The project is being led by Hydrom, in collaboration with the Ministry of Energy and Minerals, the Greek company Ecolog, and the German power firm EnBW.

The development builds on a Joint Study Agreement (JSA) signed during COP28 in 2023, which involves Oman, the Port of Amsterdam, Zenith Energy Terminals, and GasLog. This agreement aims to explore the creation of a liquid hydrogen export chain. A planned liquefaction facility in Duqm will process hydrogen at -253°C, allowing it to be transported via specialized Ecolog vessels that can carry 2,000 tonnes per shipment. Upon arrival in Amsterdam, the hydrogen will either be regasified for pipeline supply to German industries or distributed in its liquefied state via trucks throughout the Netherlands.

Oman’s hydrogen ambitions were further showcased at the GH2 Investor Day in December, where Al Busaidi and Ellen Ruhotas, Head of Hydrogen Midstream at Ecolog, discussed the project’s development. They highlighted the critical need to connect strong hydrogen producers like Oman with the growing demand in Europe. Al Busaidi noted, “The journey actually started when two nations… looked at each other and said we need to come up with a way of how we actually make this a reality,” reflecting the collaborative spirit between Oman and the Netherlands.

Despite the project’s promise, there are engineering complexities, particularly in scaling liquefaction and shipping technologies needed for a commercial hydrogen market. Ruhotas compared this endeavor to the early days of the LNG industry, emphasizing the technical challenges that must be overcome, such as boil-off losses during transport. She underscored that Oman’s strategy addresses the entire value chain, ensuring efficiency and cost-effectiveness.

The project aims to serve industries that are challenging to electrify, including brick and glass manufacturing, data centers, and food processing facilities, where there is increasing demand for green hydrogen. While minimizing hydrogen losses during transport remains a significant challenge due to hydrogen’s low density, feasibility studies show a strong commercial potential amid Europe’s rising demand for clean hydrogen. Al Busaidi reiterated the importance of developing the full hydrogen value chain, from production to liquefaction and transport.