Sohar Port to become Oman’s first green hydrogen project
Sohar Port CEO details ambitious project as part of a longer-term vision to develop Sohar into a global hub for ‘energy of the future’
A senior official at Sohar Port and Freezone in Oman has said that it is planning to host a large-scale green hydrogen generation hub powered by solar power plants. The planned facility will create carbon-free hydrogen from low-cost solar power, stored for use on demand.
According to the whitepaper, SOHAR Port and Freezone Going Green, issued by Mark Geilenkirchen, CEO of Sohar Port, they are working with the Port of Rotterdam, a 50% JV partner in Sohar Port alongside the Government of Oman, for the strategic delivery of the ‘green hydrogen’ initiative.
Besides, Sohar Port is also collaborating with German energy specialist Hydrogen Rise, among other international research institutions, in the quest for ‘cost-competitive solutions for the adoption of hydrogen as an alternative to natural gas’, he said.
“We have a unique opportunity to make hydrogen an important part of our clean and secure energy future. We have major plans for scaling up the use of clean hydrogen with the first hydrogen plant in Oman. The idea is to make the most of our industrial port by turning it into a hub for lower cost hydrogen, replacing traditional hydrocarbons,” he added.
He further stated that green hydrogen as the potential to decarbonise a range of heavy industries long associated with carbon emissions. He also talked about how making green steel with renewable hydrogen could be a revolution in innovation and an option for Oman to invigorate manufacturing.
Green steel made with renewable hydrogen could become a multibillion-dollar export industry. Rather than exporting renewable hydrogen, the analysis found the most economically viable path appeared to be to use it within Australia to produce steel with near-zero emissions, according to study from Grattan Institute, linked to the University of Melbourne.
Geilenkirchen added: “Similar to Australia, green steel could be built on Oman’s unique combination of competitive iron ore and renewable energy resources, matched with emerging hydrogen production. We have the potential for competitive renewable energy to really drive manufacturing, a priority sector in our diversification efforts.”
“Once those metrics are established, I also believe that we should integrate sustainability reporting into financial updates. As seen during COVID-19, the purpose of companies has moved beyond profit to helping create a better world,” he added.
“Local companies are being forced to change the way they approach markets, and also how they conduct their own business and operations. We are planning to integrate ESG efforts into our strategy and operations. And, we are creating a sustainability frame linking purpose and impact on society,” Geilenkirchen concluded.
