Muscat – Oman is hosting the 22nd Annual Conference of the Energy Regulators Regional Association (ERRA), marking the first time the global forum is being held in the Middle East.

The two-day conference opened on Monday under the patronage of H H Sayyid Asaad bin Tarik al Said, Deputy Prime Minister for International Relations and Cooperation Affairs and Personal Representative of His Majesty the Sultan. The event has attracted delegates from over 50 countries and more than 250 international energy experts.

Organised by the Authority for Public Services Regulation (APSR), the forum highlights Oman’s expanding role in global energy regulation. Held under the theme ‘Progressing Energy Transition via Effective Policies and Regulation’, the conference serves as a platform for dialogue on clean energy investments, regional energy cooperation, and regulatory frameworks.

In his opening address, H E Dr Mansour Talib al Hinai, Chairman of APSR, outlined Oman’s progress in renewable energy.

He said four renewable energy plants with a combined capacity of 1,550MW have been commissioned, while eight more solar and wind projects are under development, expected to add 1,500–1,800MW to the national grid.

Andrijana Nelkova Chuchuk, Chair of ERRA, described Oman as a “strategic partner capable of influencing the global energy governance system”, particularly in market regulation, interoperability, and investment facilitation.

The conference includes 15 technical sessions and bilateral meetings involving government officials, regulators, and private sector representatives. Monday’s sessions addressed energy sustainability in the Gulf, regional market harmonisation, and the integration of renewables into existing grids.

The agenda for Tuesday will focus on sustainable fuels, including natural gas, green hydrogen and low-carbon alternatives, as well as energy storage, financing mechanisms, and the cost of technology adoption in developing countries.

A separate session on solar energy will review national policy frameworks, innovative financing models, and efforts to involve SMEs in decentralised energy production. Technical and bilateral meetings are also being held on the sidelines of the event, covering institutional cooperation, data sharing, green financing, and partnerships for regional energy projects.