Muscat – An electric taxi service will be launched on a trial basis in Muscat governorate in the second quarter of 2024, Harith al Maqbali, CEO of Otaxi, has informed.

Speaking to Muscat Daily, Maqbali said, “Launching electric cars in our fleet will support the Omani government  to achieve net zero emissions by 2050. The launch of the service in Muscat will be followed by the other governorates.”

According to official estimates, 60% of emissions from the transport sector are from light vehicles, while heavy vehicles, trucks and the maritime transport sector contribute the rest.

In line with Oman’s commitment to achieve net zero emissions by 2050, the Ministry of Transport, Communications and Information Technology (MTCIT) announced in March 2023 Oman’s plans to phase out fuel-operated vehicles and ensure that 79% of vehicles in the country by 2035 are electric.

As per the ministry’s estimates, Oman will have at least 22,000 new electric vehicles (EV) on roads by 2040 and phase out all fossil fuel powered vehicles by 2050.

To support the large-scale adoption of EVs in Oman, the government is considering provision of incentives for EVs with an objective to make these affordable for ordinary people while also decarbonising transport in the country.

To achieve set goals, MTCIT is offering incentives to manufacture EVs in Special Economic Zone at Duqm, and has overseen installation of close to 100 charging points across Oman.

According to a statement in November 2023 by H E Khamis bin Mohammed al Shamakhi, Undersecretary for Transport in MTCIT, the number of charging stations is expected to increase to 300 across the sultanate in the next two years.

The undersecretary further informed that the number of EVs in Oman now exceeds 400 “amid an ongoing push to facilitate procedures for new car dealers to import directly from manufacturers”.

Also in November 2023, the Ministry of Commerce, Industry and Investment Promotion mandated through Ministerial Decision No 615/2023 that all fuel stations provide charging points for EVs within a timeframe of six months.