Oman’s Swiss-Backed Suhar Initiative: How Strengthening the E-Fuels Pipeline Could Impact Your Business
MUSCAT, DEC 19 — A Swiss-supported sustainable fuels project in Oman has the potential to harness up to 2 gigawatts (GW) of dedicated renewable electricity, positioning it among the largest developments of its kind worldwide.
The initiative involves collaboration between the SWEET reFuel.ch consortium, a Swiss research and innovation platform, and SOHAR Port and Freezone. Earlier this month, the two entities agreed to explore the feasibility of establishing an initial sustainable fuels production facility at SOHAR.
On December 19, representatives from the Swiss consortium, specifically Empa (the Swiss Federal Laboratories for Materials Science and Technology), described the collaboration as a significant step toward sustainable fuel production.
To formalize their intentions, Empa researcher Christian Bach and SOHAR’s Vice President of Sustainability, Abdullah al Abri, signed a letter of intent for a joint research and production facility at SOHAR Port and Freezone.
Currently in the pre-feasibility stage, the initial facility is expected to utilize 25 MW of solar-generated electricity. Its design aims to provide insights into load flexibility at scale, alongside sustainable sourcing of water and CO₂. Should it achieve successful outcomes, the program anticipates a structured, three-stage development, advancing to a mid-scale plant of approximately 200 MW, ultimately reaching a large-scale facility supported by up to 2 GW of power.
The SWEET reFuel.ch consortium—comprising various Swiss research institutions and universities—operates under the SWEET (SWiss Energy research for the Energy Transition) program, funded by the Swiss Federal Office of Energy (SFOE). It aims to establish practical pathways for producing low-carbon fuels, contributing to Switzerland’s long-term energy transition objectives.
Empa plays a central role in this Omani initiative. As the coordinator for the SWEET consortium, Empa is currently conducting a pre-feasibility study focused on scaling sustainable fuel production technologies, collaborating with various reFuel.ch partners and engaging with around 30 industry stakeholders. Project coordination is expected to transition to an industry-led consortium by summer 2026.
Furthermore, the initial facility will also act as a platform for joint research and development in sustainable energy technologies. Key areas of focus will include load flexibility in large-scale plants and sustainable supply of water and CO₂, addressed through interdisciplinary collaboration.
In previous statements, SOHAR Port and Freezone highlighted that the project aims to assess the potential for producing Renewable Fuels of Non-Biological Origin (RFNBOs)—synthetic, low-carbon fuels like green hydrogen and green ammonia—utilizing renewable energy and non-biological inputs. Unlike biofuels, RFNBOs rely exclusively on electrolysis and chemical synthesis powered by renewable sources.
This initiative adds to a growing array of e-fuel projects in Oman targeting synthetic, renewable fuels including e-gasoline, sustainable aviation fuel (e-SAF), and e-methanol.
Among these initiatives is OSCAR (Oman Sustainable Cars and Aviation Refuelling), a global consortium involving OQ Alternative Energy, Dutco, Sumitomo Corporation Middle East, Lamborghini, and Airbus, working on a concept study for producing e-gasoline and e-SAF in Oman.
Additionally, OQ Alternative Energy is advancing plans for an e-fuels hub in the Duqm Special Economic Zone, which aims to pilot and eventually scale production of e-methanol, e-gasoline, e-SAF, and e-natural gas.
In Dhofar Governorate, a public–private partnership including HIF Global, Acciona Nordex Green Hydrogen, and Al Meera Investments is exploring a large-scale e-methanol production facility in Salalah, which could serve as maritime fuel or be converted into other derivatives.
Similarly, Nordic Electrofuel, a Norwegian producer of synthetic aviation fuels, has announced plans for establishing an e-SAF production facility in Oman, leveraging renewable hydrogen to aid air transport decarbonization.
Most recently, US-based carbon recycling firm LanzaTech signed an agreement with the International Finance Corporation (IFC)—the private-sector arm of the World Bank Group—to collaborate on a major sustainable aviation fuel project in Oman.
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Oman’s collaboration with the Swiss SWEET reFuel.ch consortium heralds a significant opportunity for businesses in the sustainable fuels sector, potentially establishing the nation as a leader in renewable energy innovation. As the initiative aims for a large-scale production facility, investors should consider the strategic advantages of early involvement in sustainable technologies that cater to a growing global market for low-carbon fuels. However, the inherent uncertainties of the project’s feasibility and execution underscore the need for prudent risk assessment in this nascent sector.
