The collaboration between Belgium and Oman has been further strengthened with the signing of a new memorandum of understanding (MoU) between the Belgian Hydrogen Council, representing Belgium’s hydrogen ecosystem, and Hydrom, the organization driving Oman’s national green hydrogen strategy.
The MoU, described as a significant milestone, was signed during the visit of His Majesty Sultan Haitham bin Tariq of Oman to the Port House in Antwerp, Belgium, on December 5, 2024.
As outlined by the Belgian Hydrogen Council, the agreement aims to enhance collaboration between the two nations by promoting joint research and industrial partnerships, as well as creating a solid regulatory framework to support hydrogen import and distribution.
This new agreement builds on earlier initiatives, such as the Hyport Duqm project. This project is being developed by Belgian offshore energy and dredging company DEME, Omani energy firm OQ, and, more recently, British energy giant BP.
The project aims to produce green hydrogen and green ammonia using both wind and solar power, with an initial production capacity of about 1.3 GW under Phase 1, potentially expanding to over 2.7 GW upon the completion of Phase 2. The downstream operations will be fully integrated with the infrastructure at the Port of Duqm, enabling the export of green hydrogen to European and Asian markets.
The Belgian Hydrogen Council emphasized that the new MoU highlights Belgium’s strategic role as a gateway for green hydrogen into the European Union, while also acknowledging Oman’s vast renewable energy potential and infrastructure capacity.
Tom Hautekiet, Chairman of the Belgian Hydrogen Council, stated: “This agreement marks a major step in deepening our cooperation with Oman, a key player in the global hydrogen supply chain. By harnessing Oman’s abundant renewable energy resources and Belgium’s strategic location as a hydrogen hub for Europe, we are creating a strong platform for innovation, investment, and growth in the hydrogen sector. Our goal is to drive a sustainable energy future, unlocking new opportunities for our industries, researchers, and policymakers.”
Salim Al Aufi, Oman’s Minister of Energy and Minerals and Chairman of Hydrom, said: “This MoU is a defining moment in the partnership between Oman and Belgium, advancing our shared ambition to shape the future of the global hydrogen economy. Oman’s potential to become a major green hydrogen production hub, combined with Belgium’s role as a key hydrogen-based industrial center and strategic gateway to Europe, will strengthen energy security and ensure a seamless hydrogen supply chain. Together, we aim to accelerate the global transition to clean energy by fostering innovation and building the infrastructure needed to connect hydrogen producers and markets worldwide.”
In addition to this agreement, in March 2024, Hydrom partnered with Germany’s VNG Group to explore the economic potential of creating a green hydrogen and ammonia value chain between Oman and Germany.
Oman is also exploring other European partnerships. In collaboration with the Port of Amsterdam, Zenith Energy Terminals, and GasLog, Oman is investigating the development of a liquid hydrogen supply chain that would transport green hydrogen from Oman to Amsterdam and onward to European markets.
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