MUSCAT: A high-calibre advisory body of local and international energy sector executives gathered together in the mountaintop resort town of Jabal Akhdar last week to put the finishes touches to a thought-provoking and engaging programme agenda for the Green Hydrogen Summit Oman 2022 – Global Conference and Exhibition, due to be held in Muscat later this year.
The three-day event, set to take place from December 5-7, 2022 at the Oman Convention and Exhibition Centre (OCEC), will help shine a powerful spotlight on Oman’s potential to evolve into a global-scale producer and exporter of green hydrogen. Backed by 2040 Vision Oman and the Ministry of Energy and Minerals, GHSO 2022 has the support of a wide array of prestigious international and local energy organisations, notably the International Energy Agency (IEA), OQ Group, Energy Development Oman (EDO), Petroleum Development Oman (PDO), and OPAL.
Crafting an innovative and impactful conference agenda is the responsibility of the GHSO Technical Committee, whose members met in scenic Jabal Akhdar to brainstorm and finalise the programme.
The Technical Committee comprises: Prof. Michael Modigell (Chair); Dr. Ruth Prelicz, Expert on Sustainable Energy and Hydrogen, AHK Oman; Basil Elzein, Integration Manager, Shell Oman; Dr Khalil al Hanashi, Energy Technology Lead – Energy renewable unit, PDO; Monica Trench, Hydrogen Origination and Business Development, BP; Dr. Zakiya al Azri, Corporate Research and Development Advisor, PDO; Maher Ayed, Regional Director – Energy Transition: hydrogen-carbon capture and storage geothermal, Baker Hughes UAE; Olav Carlsen, Founder and CEO, Hydrogen Rise LLC; Dr. Rashid al Abri, Assistant Professor, SQU; and Mohammed al Tae, Project Engineer Manager, Oman LNG.
Delighted to have influential energy sector executives meeting in his resort town, His Excellency Ali al Busaidi, Wali of Jabal Akhdar, attended the opening to extend a warm welcome to the committee members. Speaking on the occasion, he provided an overview of the important initiatives underway in the newly established Wilayat to support sustainable tourism while carefully preserving the fragile environment of this popular holiday destination. Later, as an apt finale to their meeting, the Committee members went on a tour of Jabal Akhdar’s distinctive natural and geographical attractions.
Following an extensive review of the programme agenda proposed at an earlier meeting, the Technical Committee finalized the speakers for four key sessions focusing on the following themes: Green Hydrogen Production Technologies; Green Hydrogen Plant Design and Usage; Certification and Regulation; and Green Hydrogen Transportation and Storage. Abstracts submitted by key experts were also reviewed for quality, substance, style and focus.
The brainstorming session that followed yielded the makings of a coherent, substantive and impactful conference agenda featuring topics that align with Oman’s own strategic vision for a green hydrogen-based energy future.
Committee Members broadly hailed the Jabal Akhdar meeting as a resounding success. Olav Carlsen of Hydrogen Rise commented: “Bringing together smart minds with a common goal in an offsite away from the daily routines was again very successful. The summit is an extraordinarily important event for the building of the future hydrogen economy in Oman. It is now, that global investment decisions are made and international hydrogen supply partnerships are planned. Placing Oman in the focus of these developments is a national responsibility by all of us. For this a dedicated and detailed planning of content and context for the summit is most important and we at Hydrogen Rise are proud to have been again part of it in a team of such engaged contributors from industry, academia and government.”
Dr. Khalil al Hanashi of PDO added: “Clean hydrogen continues to make strides in the global energy arena. The Green Hydrogen Summit Oman will be the forum where technical experts, hydrogen producers, hydrogen consumers and policymakers meet to support the development of hydrogen economy locally and globally.”
