White Hydrogen Discovery Boosts SOHAR’s Decarbonisation Drive: What It Means for Sustainable Investment in Oman
MUSCAT, NOV 30 — The recent discovery of naturally occurring hydrogen, also known as native or white hydrogen, in Suhar has bolstered prospects for its development as a key resource in advancing the decarbonisation objectives of SOHAR Port and Freezone, a senior official from the maritime hub stated.
Emile Hoogsteden, CEO of SOHAR, emphasized the port’s ongoing partnership with Swiss natural hydrogen specialist HYNAT SA to explore subsurface hydrogen reserves in the area. Unlike conventional hydrogen, white hydrogen is geologically formed and naturally present within the Earth’s crust, presenting an opportunity for direct extraction from underground reservoirs as a clean, low-carbon energy source.
“Reserves in this region have been confirmed,” Hoogsteden said. “The next step involves extraction testing to evaluate feasibility and energy yield. Should this prove viable, it could supply a direct, low-carbon fuel source to industries within SOHAR,” he added during an interview with The Energy Year, a UK-based business intelligence platform.
In July, SOHAR signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with HYNAT SA aimed at developing a comprehensive natural hydrogen value chain in Oman. This cooperation focuses on identifying natural hydrogen production zones, establishing logistics corridors, and creating dedicated storage and processing infrastructure. Earlier in February, the Ministry of Energy and Minerals had also signed an MoU granting HYNAT the rights to conduct feasibility studies.
Despite this focus on white hydrogen, SOHAR remains committed to advancing green hydrogen initiatives. Hoogsteden stated, “We are also pursuing green hydrogen development at SOHAR to further strengthen its position as a green manufacturing hub.”
Dr. Abdullah al Abri, Vice President — Sustainability at SOHAR, highlighted the port’s strong existing hydrogen demand, driven by its refinery, petrochemical, and DRI-based steel industries. He described SOHAR as a natural national hub for green hydrogen production. The strategic approach involves starting with small pilot projects to build expertise and confidence. Currently, an investment proposal is being finalized to install 80–100 MW of grid-connected electrolysers, providing a continuous hydrogen supply to port industries and mitigating the intermittency challenges associated with standalone renewable sources.
On The Energy Talks platform, Dr. Al Abri explained that this strategy minimizes investment risk by leveraging the existing grid, which is already about 11% renewable and expected to reach 30% by 2030. This setup allows for the use of renewable energy certificates and guarantees a reliable, uninterrupted hydrogen supply to end users.
Additionally, SOHAR has partnered with a Swiss consortium to explore establishing a green hydrogen corridor between Oman and Switzerland. This collaboration builds on a 2023 intergovernmental framework agreement to develop a joint implementation road map and related projects, reflecting both nations’ shared carbon neutrality goals.
Dr. Al Abri underscored hydrogen’s strategic significance for SOHAR. The port currently supports various industries and LNG bunkering operations, with plans to advance methanation as the next phase. As biofuel industries expand, their biogenic CO₂ emissions could be utilized to produce sustainable aviation fuel (SAF) and other green fuels. This pathway aligns closely with SOHAR’s long-term decarbonisation strategy, in which hydrogen plays a central role.
Special Analysis by Omanet | Navigate Oman’s Market
The discovery of naturally occurring white hydrogen in Suhar presents a strategic opportunity for Oman to lead in low-carbon energy production, particularly benefiting SOHAR Port’s industrial and decarbonisation ambitions. For businesses and investors, this signals a potential shift towards sustainable energy infrastructure with reduced reliance on intermittent renewables, enhancing reliability and cost-efficiency. Entrepreneurs should now consider positioning themselves in the emerging natural and green hydrogen value chains, leveraging Oman’s evolving hydrogen corridor partnerships for long-term growth and sustainability.
