meed-logo

line1 line2 line3
SIGN IN / REGISTER

Oman to sign hydrogen deals by June

21 February 2023

 

Hydrogen Oman (Hydrom) expects to sign project development and sub-usufruct agreements with the successful bidders for the land blocks being auctioned for integrated green hydrogen projects in Oman by June.

Hydrom has received proposed changes to both documents from interested bidders and expects to reissue the updated agreements by 22 February.

These are understood to be legally binding agreements that will be issued on a "use-it-or-lose-it basis", according to industry sources.

Consortiums and individual companies are preparing to bid by 15 March for the land blocks being auctioned for integrated green hydrogen projects in Oman, as MEED has previously reported.

An extension to the tender closing date cannot be ruled out despite Hydrom expecting to award the contracts in May or April, one of the sources tells MEED.

Hydrom is understood to have received statements of qualification (SOQs) from prospective developers to take part in the auctions.

According to industry sources, the following companies and consortiums have submitted SOQs: 

  • Abu Dhabi National Energy Company (Taqa, UAE) / Masdar (UAE) / Jera (Japan)
  • Alfanar Company (Saudi Arabia) 
  • Acme Group (India)
  • EDF (France)
  • BP (UK)
  • Fortescue (Australia)
  • Korea Electric Power Corporation (Kepco) / Posco / Samsung Engineering (South Korea)
  • Marubeni (Japan) / Linde (France) / Dutco (UAE) / OQ (local)
  • Mitsui (Japan)
  • Shell (Netherlands) / OQ (local) / Intercontinental Energy (Singapore) 
  • Total (France)

Hydrom has yet to officially issue a list of prequalified bidders.

It is understood that not all of these companies or consortiums have purchased the request for proposals (RFP) document for the land block auctions.

MEED understands Hydrom will provide developers with desalinated water and hydrogen pipelines as part of the agreements.

Phase A of the land auctions will comprise two bid rounds for integrated green hydrogen projects in Duqm and Thumrait.

According to Hydrom, two blocks will be awarded in the Duqm area by the end of the first quarter of 2023, while four blocks will be awarded in the Thumrait area by the end of 2023.

Oman expects winning developers for the first phase of its programme to deliver integrated projects that cover the full green hydrogen value chain. These projects are expected to include:

  • Renewable energy production: wind/solar mix to ensure competitive levelised cost of hydrogen
  • Hydrogen production: could be polymer electrolyte membrane or alkaline electrolysers
  • Hydrogen derivatives conversion: end product, whether hydrogen, ammonia or methanol, among others, is up to the developers
  • Offtaker: developers are expected to secure offtake for their products

The investor roadshow for the second bid round is expected to be held in April, followed by the qualification phase in May. Contracts for this round are due to be awarded by December.

The planned auctions support Oman’s goal to produce 1 million tonnes a year of green hydrogen by 2030.

Developers are expected to bid as part of consortiums and partner with a government-owned entity after the award.

Hydrom mandate

Hydrom was set up in early 2022 with a directive from Oman’s Sultan Haitham bin Tariq al-Said to structure and accelerate the development of the green hydrogen sector in the country.

Hydrom is wholly owned by Energy Development Oman (EDO) and regulated by the Energy & Minerals Ministry.

EDO’s mandate includes creating a master plan for the sector, including delineating government-owned land areas, structuring associated large-scale green hydrogen projects, managing the process for their allocation to developers and overseeing their execution, as well as facilitating the development of common infrastructure, connected ecosystem industries and hubs.

It has the right to purchase a minimum of 5 per cent and up to 20 per cent of shares in the green hydrogen projects being set up in the country.

The sultanate has a rapidly growing green hydrogen and green ammonia pipeline. There are plans to build at least 12 such schemes in Oman, requiring a budget of at least $55bn, MEED’s latest data shows. 

https://image.digitalinsightresearch.in/uploads/NewsArticle/10612420/main.jpg
Jennifer Aguinaldo

Register for MEED's guest program now to access this article.

Click here to register
Exclusive from Meed
Related Articles
  • Egypt approves plans for 869MW wind power plant

    22 June 2026

    Egypt’s Cabinet has approved plans for French renewable energy developer Voltalia to develop an 869MW wind power project.

    The scheme will be built on land allocated by the New & Renewable Energy Authority (NREA), according to a statement posted by the Cabinet following its most recent weekly meeting.

    Voltalia will make an initial investment of $53m and has committed to achieving commercial operations by December 2028.

    Voltalia already operates the 32MW Ra solar plant at the Benban solar complex in Aswan and is expanding its renewable energy portfolio in Egypt.

    Previously, in 2024, it signed a framework agreement with Egypt’s Taqa Arabia to develop a green hydrogen and renewable power cluster near the Ain Sokhna port in the Suez Canal Economic Zone.

    The green hydrogen development is planned in two phases, each centred on a 500MW electrolyser powered by more than 1.3GW of renewable generation capacity. The project, still in its early stages, is expected to produce up to 350,000 tonnes of green ammonia a year.

    Voltalia’s partnership with Taqa Arabia also includes plans for a 3.2GW hybrid wind and solar project to repower the existing 545MW Zafarana wind farm in Suez Governorate. The Cabinet statement did not indicate whether the newly approved 869MW wind project forms part of that proposal.

    Meanwhile, the developer won another contract, earlier this year, to develop a 132MW solar power project in Tunisia’s Gabes region.

    The project, known as Wadi, marked Voltalia’s third major solar award in the country after the Sagdoud and Menzel Habib projects awarded in 2024.

    https://image.digitalinsightresearch.in/uploads/NewsArticle/17376730/main.jpg
    Mark Dowdall
  • Local firm signs Jeddah drainage contracts

    22 June 2026

    Local contractor Alkhorayef Water & Power Technologies (AWPT) has announced it has signed two contracts with Jeddah Municipality to operate and maintain stormwater and surface water drainage networks across the city.

    The contracts have a combined value of SR202.06m ($53.9m), and each will run for five years.

    The first contract, valued at SR108.46m ($28.9m), covers the operation and cleaning of stormwater and surface water networks in the South and Al-Malisa sub-municipalities.

    The second contract, worth SR93.59m ($25m), covers similar services for the Airport Sub-Municipality.

    In March, MEED reported that the firm had won a long-term contract to carry out work in the airport’s sub-municipality area. The agreement was signed on 16 June.

    Elsewhere, construction has yet to begin on phases one and two of the King Abdullah Road-Falasteen Road tunnel project, each valued at about $175m.

    According to sources, Jeddah Municipality selected Saudi contractor Thrustboring Construction Company to build the large-diameter stormwater drainage tunnels in 2025. However, an official agreement has yet to be signed.

    The municipality was also previously planning to rehabilitate the existing Al-Zahra pumping station. Prequalification for the project began in 2020; however, it is understood that the main contact tender was cancelled last year.

    https://image.digitalinsightresearch.in/uploads/NewsArticle/17376097/main.jpg
    Mark Dowdall
  • Qiddiya seeks contractors for indoor arena project

    22 June 2026

     

    Register for MEED’s 14-day trial access 

    Saudi Arabian gigaproject developer Qiddiya Investment Company (QIC) has invited contractors to prequalify for a contract to build an indoor sports arena within its Qiddiya entertainment city project.

    The invitation was issued on 21 May, with a submission deadline of 28 June.

    The multipurpose arena is designed to International Olympic Committee standards.

    It will be located in District 18, in the Uptown South area of Qiddiya.

    Once completed, the indoor arena will be capable of hosting a wide range of sports, cultural and entertainment events.

    The arena will feature numerous sports courts for basketball, handball, futsal, volleyball, tennis, boxing and gymnastics.

    It will have a seating capacity of 18,000 spectators.

    The project is scheduled for completion by 2030.

    QIC’s other major projects include an e-sports arena, the National Tennis Centre, Prince Mohammed Bin Salman Stadium, a motorsports track, a racecourse, the Dragon Ball and Six Flags theme parks, and Aquarabia.

    QIC opened the Six Flags theme park to the public in December last year.

    The park covers 320,000 square metres and features 28 rides and attractions, including 10 thrill rides and 18 aimed at families and young children.

    The Qiddiya project is a key part of Riyadh’s strategy to boost leisure tourism in the kingdom.

    https://image.digitalinsightresearch.in/uploads/NewsArticle/17375504/main.jpg
    Yasir Iqbal
  • Egypt signs gas deal with Harbour Energy

    22 June 2026

    Egypt’s Ministry of Petroleum & Mineral Resources has signed a new agreement with London-headquartered Harbour Energy.

    Under the scope of the agreement, Harbour Energy will drill two new exploration wells and carry out maintenance work for one of the existing wells within the Dsouq-1 development contract.

    Harbour Energy committed an initial $6m investment and a $1m signing bonus for the Dsouq concession. Total investment could rise to $18m if commercial discoveries are made.

    The signing was witnessed by Egypt’s Minister of Petroleum, Karim Badawi.

    He said that his ministry is continuing to implement a package of investment measures and incentives aimed at encouraging partners to increase investments and intensify exploration, development and production activities.

    The agreement was signed by Syed Saleem, a member of the executive branch of the state-owned Egyptian Natural Gas Holding Company (EGAS), and Samah Sabry, the executive director of Harbour Energy for the Middle East and North Africa region.

    Harbour Energy drilled two new wells in Egypt during the fiscal year 2025/2026, resulting in the addition of reserves estimated at 35 billion cubic feet of gas.

    The company aims to drill three new exploration wells during the fiscal year 2026/2027.

    Egypt is currently pushing to boost the production of both oil and gas in its territory.

    Earlier this month, Egypt’s Ministry of Petroleum & Mineral Resources announced that it had fully settled all outstanding arrears owed to oil and gas companies.

    Two years ago, in June 2024, the country owed approximately $6.1bn to partners in the oil and gas sector.

    READ THE JUNE 2026 MEED BUSINESS REVIEW – click here to view PDF

    GCC looks beyond the Strait; Iraq’s reform window narrows as fiscal assumptions shatter; MEED Top 100 companies.

    Distributed to senior decision-makers in the region and around the world, the June 2026 edition of MEED Business Review includes:
    To see previous issues of MEED Business Review, please click here
    https://image.digitalinsightresearch.in/uploads/NewsArticle/17374536/main4731.jpg
    Wil Crisp
  • Iran invites companies to register for Kharg Oil Terminal development

    22 June 2026

     

    Iran has invited companies to participate in a project to develop the existing Kharg Oil Terminal, according to documents released by the state-owned National Iranian Oil Company and Iranian Oil Terminals Company.

    The project focuses on developing units capable of receiving, storing and exporting extra-heavy West Karun crude oil at a rate of 700,000 barrels a day.

    The scope of the project includes design, purchase, installation and commissioning of the new facility.

    The contract will use the engineering, procurement and construction (EPC) model, according to the tender documents.

    The project aims to use existing oil storage tanks and reconstruct the deepwater crude oil export berth known as Berth Number One.

    The berth known as Berth Number Three will serve as a backup berth for the project.

    The winning bidder for the contract will be responsible for a range of works, including:

    • Carrying out all stages of verification of the project’s basic design, design and engineering
    • Supply and procurement of goods and materials
    • Execution and installation
    • Pre-commissioning and commissioning

    The project is expected to take 30 months to complete, and the winning contractor will also be responsible for maintaining the facility for a further 12 months.

    Companies that wish to submit bids need to do so through Iran’s Government Electronic Procurement System (Setad).

    Companies interested in participating in the tender have seven days from the publication of the tender notice to receive the documents.

    They then have a further 14 days to upload the required documents into the government procurement system.

    Iran exports most of its oil via the Kharg Oil Terminal on Kharg Island.

    US President Donald Trump said strikes in mid-March “obliterated” Kharg’s military assets but did not target the island’s oil infrastructure.

    He warned that if Iran continued disrupting traffic through the Strait of Hormuz, he would reconsider the decision to spare energy targets on the island.

    Trump has threatened several times to take “control” of Kharg Island, but he has not yet followed through on this threat.

    The small coral island is located 33 kilometres from Iran’s coast and has strategic importance because Iran’s coastline is mostly too shallow for large tanker ships to dock.

    READ THE JUNE 2026 MEED BUSINESS REVIEW – click here to view PDF

    GCC looks beyond the Strait; Iraq’s reform window narrows as fiscal assumptions shatter; MEED Top 100 companies.

    Distributed to senior decision-makers in the region and around the world, the June 2026 edition of MEED Business Review includes:
    To see previous issues of MEED Business Review, please click here
    https://image.digitalinsightresearch.in/uploads/NewsArticle/17374518/main.jpg
    Wil Crisp