The Ministry of Energy and Minerals, Oman signed a Memorandum of Cooperation (MoC) in the field of Carbon Capture, Utilization and Storage (CCUS) and blue hydrogen development in the Sultanate of Oman.

The MoC was signed with Petroleum Development Oman (PDO), Oman Shell, OQGN, and Oxy.

The MoC aims to form an expertise house that contributes to the development of the regulatory and strategic framework in this field. The MoC comes as part of the government-led initiatives focused on carbon capture technologies and blue hydrogen production to achieve Oman’s energy transition strategy for Energy transition, and the Sultanate of Oman’s announcement of achieving net zero by 2050.

The CCUS technology presents promising solutions to reduce carbon emissions and achieve Net Zero, particularly in the oil and gas production sectors, industries, and fossil fuel-based power plants.

The Sultanate of Oman’s National Strategy for an orderly transition to Net Zero has indicated that CCUS will contribute to a significant reduction (approximately 15%) in domestic emissions, thereby facilitating Oman’s journey toward Net Zero by 2050.

This MoC represents a continuation of efforts to find practical solutions to reduce carbon emissions and enable pioneering initiatives and future projects related to the field of carbon capture and blue hydrogen production. This objective can be achieved through forming a specialized House of Expertise to conduct a comprehensive techno-economic assessment in the Sultanate of Oman and to contribute to the development of the regulatory framework and strategies necessary for the advancement of this sector.

Work streams will be established to develop specific technical and organizational aspects throughout the value chain processes, with a participation from both the public and private sectors, academic institutions, and experienced investment and research institutions.

Meanwhile, Occidental Oman and OQ Gas Networks (OQGN), signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) to jointly study potential carbon capture, utilization, and sequestration (CCUS) projects in Oman.

The MoU outlines the companies’ mutual collaboration to study the development and deployment of CCUS in conjunction with enhanced oil recovery (EOR) projects at Oxy’s production assets in Oman.

Under the terms of the MoU, Oxy Oman and OQGN intend to exchange knowledge and technical expertise to develop strategies enabling the deployment of CCUS projects in Oman in line with the national strategic direction, including carbon capture, transport of carbon dioxide to Oxy’s production assets for EOR, and supporting the development of relevant policies and procedures with the appropriate government bodies.

The strategic collaboration between Oxy Oman and OQGN demonstrates the two companies’ commitment to innovation and advancement of CCUS and future EOR projects in Oman. The MoU also underpins both companies’ dedication to enabling Oman’s long-term Net Zero strategy and global climate objectives.