A new agreement has been signed to create the world’s first special corridor for importing liquid hydrogen that will connect Oman, the Netherlands, and Germany.
The corridor will enable commercial-scale delivery of renewable, non-biological origin liquid hydrogen from the port of Duqm in Oman to important European hubs, including the port of Amsterdam and the inland port of Duisburg.
The agreement was formalized during the state visit of the king of Oman to the Netherlands.
World’s first liquid hydrogen corridor
The agreement brings together eleven major players across the hydrogen value chain.
These include Hydrom (Oman’s national hydrogen authority), OQ (Oman’s integrated energy company), Tata Steel Nederland, Hynetwork, Hamburger Hafen und Logistik AG, ECOLOG, and others.
Their roles include producing, liquefying, shipping, importing, and distributing liquid hydrogen.
ECOLOG’s vessel technology, which prevents cargo loss and lowers transport costs, is responsible for transporting hydrogen without any loss due to boil-off.
This innovation is important to make the corridor efficient and commercially viable.
The agreement has three main parts that focus on building a hydrogen economy.
First, Oman will build a centralized liquefaction and export terminal at the Port of Duqm.
This facility will process green hydrogen produced in Oman and allow it to be shipped to Europe. This infrastructure is crucial for making Oman an important player in the global hydrogen market.
Second, Oman will negotiate contracts for buyers in the Amsterdam area, as well as in the Netherlands and Germany.
EnBW will help match the hydrogen supply with the industrial demand in sectors like steel and transportation.
Lastly, a logistics corridor will improve export and import operations at Duqm, Amsterdam, and Duisburg.
This corridor will enable the distribution of hydrogen by pipelines, rail, and barges.
Strategic Impact
This agreement strengthens Oman’s position in the global hydrogen economy.
With its strong solar and wind resources, Oman is investing heavily in green hydrogen production for export.
The JDA supports the country’s ambition to become a leading European supplier.
The corridor enhances energy security for Europe by reducing reliance on fossil fuels and diversifying import sources.
It also supports EU targets for decarbonizing hard-to-abate sectors like steelmaking and heavy transport.
“This agreement marks a major step forward in our clean energy partnership with Oman. It connects our climate goals with a reliable source of renewable hydrogen,” Dutch Minister for Climate and Green Growth Sophie Hermans said.
Oman’s Minister of Energy and Minerals, Salim Nasser Al Aufi, added, “This partnership reflects Oman’s long-term commitment to green hydrogen and its strategic relationship with Europe.”
The JDA builds on an earlier partnership between Hydrom, the Ministry of Energy and Minerals, Port of Amsterdam, ECOLOG, and EnBW.
With infrastructure planning now underway, the goal is to begin large-scale hydrogen exports from Oman to Europe by 2029.
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