Muscat – Hyport Duqm Company, which is planning to set up a major green hydrogen production facility in the Special Economic Zone at Duqm, on Monday signed a land reservation agreement with the Public Authority for Special Economic Zones and Free Zones (OPAZ) for the green hydrogen project.

Hyport Duqm is a joint venture project between Oman’s OQ and Belgian company DEME Concessions.

As per the agreement, Hyport Duqm will now continue to move forward with the early engineering works and site data collection to establish a green hydrogen and ammonia project in the Special Economic Zone at Duqm (SEZAD).

The agreement was signed by H E Dr Ali Masoud al Sunaidy, chairman of OPAZ, and on behalf of Hyport Duqm by Dr Salim al Huthaili, CEO of OQ Alternative Energy, and Alain Bernard, chairman and managing director of DEME Concessions.

The project will be established in part of the land already allocated for the renewable energy projects, in an area of 150 sqkm and is located in the southern part of the Special Economic Zone at Duqm. This strategic land will accommodate both an onshore wind and solar farm with a combined capacity of 1.3 GW, which will be developed in subsequent expandable project phases.

Hyport Duqm is currently completing the installation and commissioning of four meteorological wind masts and two meteorological solar stations within the site in order to confirm Duqm’s excellent solar and wind conditions which are available throughout the year and which form the basis of a successful green hydrogen to green ammonia project.

In a press statement, H E Eng Ahmed bin Hassan al Dheeb, deputy chairman of OPAZ, said, “OPAZ welcomes this project in the Special Economic Zones at Duqm. It aspires to be a pioneering project that will introduce green hydrogen and green Ammonia to the country, which will lead the diversification beyond hydrocarbons efforts and contribute to Vision 2040.”

Huthaili said, “The land reservation agreement is yet another milestone in the development of this important project. The Special Economic Zone at Duqm will be a global green hydrogen hub combining power, manufacturing and logistics activities while focusing on effort of decarbonisation and electrification.”

“The excellent renewable resources and the existing infrastructures along with the upcoming national grid connection makes Duqm an attractive and competitive destination for renewable energy projects. Oman continues to be a global leader in delivering clean energy projects to accelerate the energy transition effort,” he added.

Alain Bernard, executive chairman of DEME Concessions, said, “Our flagship green hydrogen project Hyport Duqm strikes another important milestone which underwrites DEME Concessions’ strong commitment in making the necessary project progress. Hyport Duqm responds not only to the call for projects supporting the global energy transition; the project will form an integral part of SEZAD’s ambitious growth under the strong leadership of OPAZ. Finally, this milestone strengthens DEME Concession’s sustainable, long-term presence in SEZAD, complementing its shareholder’s role in Port of Duqm.”