Saturday 05 / September / 2026
Muscat: The Sultanate of Oman, represented by the Ministry of Energy and Minerals, has joined the International Partnership for Hydrogen and Fuel Cells in the Economy (IPHE), an international collaboration aimed at advancing the hydrogen economy and fuel-cell technologies and accelerating their adoption across sectors including transport, industry, power generation and energy storage.
The move strengthens Oman’s position within the global hydrogen ecosystem and supports international cooperation in green hydrogen and the development of a sustainable energy system. It also reinforces the Sultanate’s ambitions in the hydrogen and hydrogen derivatives sector and supports its broader economic and development objectives.
Oman’s membership represents a strategic step towards achieving the goals of Oman Vision 2040, particularly in economic diversification based on knowledge, innovation and sustainability, by strengthening the country’s role in the global hydrogen economy.
Membership will enable Oman to expand cooperation with IPHE member countries and benefit from international best practices in developing policies, regulatory frameworks and technical standards. It will also support the growth of the hydrogen sector and help connect domestic projects with international markets.
The partnership will provide a platform for cooperation in developing green hydrogen value chains, harmonising standards, specifications and safety requirements, and supporting international trade in hydrogen and its derivatives. These efforts are expected to promote greater international alignment and accelerate the safe and economically viable deployment of hydrogen and fuel-cell technologies.
Oman will also be able to participate actively in research, development and innovation programmes and joint pilot projects, while benefiting from international initiatives focused on capacity building and developing specialised national skills. This will contribute to preparing the expertise required for the growth of the hydrogen economy and attracting high-quality investments.
The move builds on Oman’s ongoing efforts to develop its green hydrogen sector by leveraging its solar and wind energy resources and establishing an integrated ecosystem that supports sustainable development and net-zero targets while increasing the sector’s contribution to the national economy.
Eng. Salim bin Nasser Al Aufi, Minister of Energy and Minerals, underscored the importance of Oman’s membership, saying the Sultanate is keen to play an active role in strengthening international cooperation in hydrogen.
He described the move as an important milestone in Oman’s efforts to build a hydrogen economy, noting that the Sultanate seeks to establish a globally competitive green hydrogen economy.
Al Aufi said Oman looks forward to contributing to international efforts to drive innovation, strengthen cooperation, enhance national capabilities and develop the policies and standards required to build a resilient and sustainable global hydrogen market.
Paolo Emilio Valladao de Miranda, Chair of the International Partnership for Hydrogen and Fuel Cells in the Economy, welcomed Oman’s membership, noting that the partnership is continuing to grow and attract an increasing number of countries committed to developing the global hydrogen economy.
He said Oman’s ambitious vision for low-emission hydrogen, exceptional renewable energy potential and focus on developing large-scale production and export opportunities make it a valuable addition to the international partnership.
Valladao de Miranda added that Oman brings important expertise and perspectives in infrastructure, international markets, policy development and standards, contributing to efforts to build a resilient and sustainable global hydrogen economy.
Dr. Laurent Antoni, Executive Director of the International Partnership for Hydrogen and Fuel Cells in the Economy, said Oman’s membership represents an important addition to the partnership’s international community, combining significant renewable energy potential with an ambitious hydrogen development programme and a clear focus on building the capabilities and frameworks needed to support the emergence of a new industry.
He said the partnership looks forward to working with Oman and facilitating the exchange of expertise with other members, particularly as countries address shared challenges related to infrastructure, standards, skills development and the creation of international hydrogen markets.
