Their vision is not to abandon oil and gas but to diversify the energy sources, said Eng. Salim bin Nasser Al Aufi. Well, that’s what the Minister of Energy and Minerals of Oman has gone on to highlight—that green hydrogen is going to be the cornerstone of the future energy landscape of the Sultanate as the nation now balances the long-term use of oil and gas with fast development when it comes to renewables.
Speaking in a Tawasul magazine exclusive interview, Al Aufi said that attaining the net-zero emissions by 2050 is going to demand quite heavy and sustained investment in terms of research and development, and a much closer collaboration with academia along with the industry is going to be crucial when it comes to shaping this shift.
According to him, they do not view renewables as direct replacements for oil and gas but as strategic complements in a much wider and multi-source energy spectrum. Their vision is not to abandon oil and gas but to go ahead and diversify the sources of energy.
The minister went on to emphasize that while fossil fuels still remain quite central to the global economy, Oman is looking forward to a dual track – rolling out certain advanced technologies to make sure of efficiency along with sustainability in hydrocarbons, while at the same time, speeding up the projects pertaining to advance green hydrogen and renewable energy.
It is well to be noted that Oman has taken major steps so as to advance green hydrogen, establishing Hydrom as the national coordinating body and earmarking strategic land blocks when it comes to production and export. There are multiple agreements that have been signed along with global companies as well as investors, and the policy frameworks are now getting aligned with the international market benchmarks.
As per Al Aufi, their focus now is on building transport and export infrastructure, making sure that they have qualified national talent, and altering the regulations so as to meet the global demands. He adds that naturally, projects of this size and scale do face challenges; however, he sees them as opportunities.
Interestingly, Al Aufi highlighted the important role of Sultan Qaboos University (SQU) as a strategic partner when it comes to advancing the sector. Apparently, a joint committee between the ministry and SQU has been formed in order to explore the research integration, establish specialized labs for energy transition as well as rare earth mineral studies, and, in a way, support graduation projects.
Al Aufi remarked that reaching the net-zero standard is going to need sustained R&D investment, especially in hydrogen, carbon capture and storage, clean gas technologies, and, of course, recycling of industrial waste.
In 2025, the ministry identified certain very promising copper and chromium reserves based in North Al Sharqiyah under the new concession agreements, while the Petroleum Development Oman continues its evaluation of the commercial viability when it comes to fresh oil and gas finds in Block 6. When it comes to renewables, high-potential wind sites are getting evaluated for development along with local as well as international partners.
Al Aufi has gone on to urge for stronger cooperation between academics as well as industry professionals, underscoring the complementary role of theory and practice. According to him, knowledge that is not applied stays trapped on paper, and exploration that lacks scientific grounding is a clear risk that may lead to wastage of resources. He further said that the greatest of discoveries always begin with an idea, which is followed by study, and the one that ends with achievement.
