Hydrogen transportation and storage, as well as cooperation in the field of renewable energy, topped the talks between the Sultanate of Oman and South Korea, during a visit by an Omani delegation to Seoul.
Today, Saturday, May 27 (2023), during a visit to the Republic of South Korea, a delegation from the Omani Ministry of Energy and Minerals discussed ways to enhance cooperation and investment in several fields, according to what was published by the Omani News Agency.
The visit aims to review investment opportunities in hydrogen transportation and storage in the Sultanate of Oman, in addition to promoting oil, gas, minerals and renewable energy investments, in addition to opportunities to strengthen partnerships and cooperation opportunities to develop the local added value chain, according to what was reviewed by the specialized energy platform.
Hydrogen transportation and storage in the Sultanate of Oman
The delegation of the Ministry of Energy and Minerals of the Sultanate of Oman, during its visit to South Korea, met a number of government and private sector officials to discuss opportunities for cooperation in the fields of renewable energy and investment in green hydrogen production, transportation and storage projects between the two countries.
During the visit, the Omani delegation held business meetings with major Korean companies, led by Samsung Apertium, Hyundai, Pasco and SK, which expressed their desire to cooperate and invest in the oil, gas, green hydrogen and minerals sectors in the Gulf state.
The Undersecretary of the Omani Ministry of Energy and Minerals, Muhsin bin Hamad Al-Hadrami, said that the visit aims for the Sultanate of Oman to be at the forefront of the leading countries in the production, transportation and storage of green hydrogen globally, according to the statements monitored by the specialized energy platform.
He explained that the ministry has developed an ambitious strategy to ensure the development of the green hydrogen economy, and is also working to promote this sector, due to its positive impact on diversifying energy sources and reducing carbon emissions to reach carbon neutrality.
He added, “The hydrogen sector represents a strategic opportunity for Omani and international companies to cooperate to support energy security globally and locally, and to achieve economic diversification, as the ministry has begun offering investment opportunities in green hydrogen production projects, through the Oman Hydrogen Company (Hydrom) platform.”
Promote green hydrogen production
The Undersecretary of the Omani Ministry of Energy and Minerals said that the ministry is working with its partners to consolidate the country’s position to assume a leading, reliable and competitive role in the global energy sector, to enhance national capabilities by supporting national innovation, to localize industry and advanced technologies, and to develop national competencies with the development of the renewable energy and green hydrogen sector.
The two sides discussed the latest technologies related to the added value chain of green hydrogen related to electrolysis, hydrogen transportation and storage, fuel cells, uses of hydrogen in heavy industries and transportation, and ways to ship it across the oceans, according to what was reviewed by the specialized energy platform.
On hydrogen transportation, the Omani delegation made a field visit to the “Cheung Songdae” plant, where they were briefed on a pilot project for a pipeline specialized in transporting hydrogen gas, by extracting it from the gas with carbon capture and converting it into blue hydrogen.
Cooperation in oil and gas
The Director General of the Directorate of Oil and Gas Exploration and Production in the Ministry, Dr. Saleh bin Ali Al-Anbouri, said that the relations between the Sultanate of Oman and South Korea are a strategic partnership, in which the realization of common interests is available, and it is important for the Korean side to secure a safe and continuous supply of energy of all kinds, and for the Sultanate to attract capital. Technology and industrial expertise of Korean companies.
He explained that the visit aims to attract Korean exploration and production companies, which have financial capabilities and technical expertise to conduct these operations, as the available opportunities were presented in the current bidding round for concession areas 15, 54 and 36, which were put forward by the ministry for bidding at the beginning of this year 2023.
He also reviewed a group of marine concession areas that will be offered in the third quarter of this year, pointing to the clarification of the bidding mechanism for oil concession areas, contracting methods and facilities provided by the government of the Sultanate of Oman to achieve a clear contract that details the obligations between the government and the operating companies.
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