(Amsterdam/Muscat) – Oman wants to build a corridor for the export of green hydrogen to Europe. The energy source is produced in the Sultanate and then transported to the Netherlands. The Ministry of Energy and Minerals and its subordinate company, Hydrogen Oman LLC (Hydrom), which was founded in 2022, signed a corresponding agreement with the Port of Amsterdam, Zenith Energy Terminals Ltd. and GasLog Ltd. We now want to investigate suitable routes together.
The Port Authority of Amsterdam and representatives of Oman at the signing of the agreement to study an export route from the Sultanate to Europe. © Port of Amsterdam
The agreement also includes a detailed assessment of the requirements for the development of a hydrogen liquefaction and storage facility in Oman, as well as the provision of specialized vessels for the transport of liquid hydrogen, which are currently being developed by GasLog, a Greece-based provider of floating storage and regasification services .
The Zenith Energy terminal is intended as a destination for the import, regasification and further distribution of hydrogen produced in Oman both to local customers in the port of Amsterdam and to large industries in the European hinterland. The liquefaction plant will be designed as “open access”. This will enable the government of Oman to explore cost-effective hydrogen export corridors to other global markets, according to a statement from the port authority.
Saudi Arabia is also looking for routes to Europe
The Amsterdam Port Authority had already concluded a similar agreement with the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia in October. The Saudi power plant developer ACWA Power, Zenith and GasLog are also looking for an export corridor for green hydrogen. The connection routes between ACWA Power's production facilities and the port of Amsterdam will be examined. Based on the results, the parties could then enter into a Joint Development Agreement (JDA) to define roles and responsibilities, while at the same time engaging with potential buyers in the Netherlands.
The memorandum of understanding is said to build on a previous agreement between Saudi Arabia and the Netherlands, which is intended to promote cooperation in various areas such as clean hydrogen, maritime transport technologies, standards and certification, as well as the establishment of efficient international supply chains between the two countries.
ACWA Power is currently developing numerous projects in various locations, including the Neom Green Hydrogen Project in Saudi Arabia, the world's largest commercial facility of its kind powered entirely by renewable energy. Another project is being built in Uzbekistan.
In addition, feasibility studies are being developed in various countries in the Middle East, Africa and other locations. Some of the green hydrogen produced is intended for export, with the focus being on the European market.
The Dutch government wants to provide around nine billion euros for the development of the production and distribution of green hydrogen by 2030, including 300 million euros for imports.
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The port of Amsterdam wants to import liquid hydrogen from Oman and Saudi Arabia. © Port of Amsterdam
