Muscat: During His Majesty Sultan Haitham bin Tarik's state visit to the Kingdom of the Netherlands, the Sultanate of Oman entered into a landmark Joint Development Agreement (JDA) to create the world’s first commercial-scale liquid hydrogen corridor connecting Oman with the Netherlands and Germany. This agreement represents a significant milestone in the global energy transition and positions Oman as a potential leader in green hydrogen production and export.
This corridor will facilitate the export of RFNBO-compliant liquid hydrogen from Oman’s Port of Duqm to the Port of Amsterdam and essential logistics centers in Germany, such as the Port of Duisburg, and further into other European nations.
Central to this initiative is the establishment of the world’s largest hydrogen liquefaction, storage, and export terminal at the Port of Duqm. Hydrom, the key player in Oman’s green hydrogen sector, will ensure that upstream production aligns with national objectives and that the project integrates effectively into Oman’s overall hydrogen infrastructure and policy framework. OQ, which supports Oman’s energy transition, will lead the development of the liquefaction infrastructure, including the hydrogen plant and associated storage and export facilities, thereby enhancing the corridor’s supply capabilities and supporting Oman’s national hydrogen goals. The centralized facility will benefit from Duqm’s expanding renewable hydrogen initiatives, taking advantage of the port’s strategic position as a global maritime hub and Special Economic Zone.
The centralized liquefaction facility will be complemented by innovative maritime transport vessels created by ECOLOG, designed to transport liquid hydrogen without any boil-off, thereby enhancing efficiency and minimizing losses. In Europe, the corridor will be supported by re-gasification import terminals located in the Port of Amsterdam, from which hydrogen will be distributed to industrial consumers in the Netherlands and Germany through gas pipelines, rail links, and barge transport via the Dutch canal system.
“Today’s significant agreement highlights Oman’s commitment to transforming its hydrogen aspirations into tangible projects that align with global demand and national priorities,” stated H.E. Eng. Salim bin Nasser Al Aufi, Minister of Energy and Minerals and Chairman of Hydrom. “While this corridor will facilitate the large-scale export of Omani hydrogen to Europe, its real significance lies in its contribution to our broader vision of an integrated sector that furthers our national goals. We are dedicated to fostering industrial diversification, infrastructure development, job creation, and capacity building, ensuring that Oman is positioned at the forefront of the global green hydrogen supply chain and generates substantial economic benefits for the nation.”
