A Joint Development Agreement (JDA) has been signed to establish the world’s first liquid hydrogen import corridor, connecting the Sultanate of Oman, the Netherlands, and Germany. This corridor will link the port of Duqm in Oman, the port of Amsterdam in the Netherlands, and key logistics hubs in Germany, including the port of Duisburg in Germany.
The corridor is to enable the commercial-scale import of renewable fuel of non-biological origin (RFNBO) compliant liquid hydrogen to Europe. The agreement was signed during the state visit by His Majesty the Sultan of Oman to the Netherlands.
The agreement was signed by eleven parties in total, including prominent players like Hydrom, Oman’s national green hydrogen orchestrator, OQ, Oman’s global integrated energy group, Tata Steel Netherlands, Hamburger Hafen und Logistik AG (HHLA) and Hynetwork, bringing together all the critical links for the envisioned supply chain.
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Vessel design with net zero boil-off
This supply chain capitalises on proven technologies for the liquefaction, transport, storage, and distribution of liquid hydrogen. Ecolog’s advanced vessel design ensures net zero boil-off, eliminating cargo loss in marine transportation. This transformative innovation significantly reduces unit freight costs, setting a new standard for efficiency and sustainability.
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From facility in Oman to barge distribution on the Netherlands
The agreement comprises several key components vital to the corridor’s development. First, the development of a centralised liquefaction, storage, and export facility at the port of Duqm, which is one of the hubs for Omani-produced green hydrogen.
Second, discussions will be held on the pricing and delivery of liquid hydrogen to offtakers located in the broader Amsterdam area, as well as offtakers located elsewhere in the Netherlands and Germany, with EnBW as the aggregator.
Finally, the aligned development of dedicated infrastructure throughout the corridor, including export and import facilities in the ports of Duqm, Amsterdam and Duisburg, as well as for several distribution modalities for gaseous and liquid hydrogen, most notably gas pipeline networks, rail connections, and barge distribution leveraging the Netherlands’ extensive canal network.
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A step toward energy security
This agreement is a significant step in Oman’s ambition to become a global leader in the green hydrogen export market, while simultaneously strengthening Europe’s energy security. The initiative also supports the EU’s clean energy goals, helping to decarbonise hard-to-abate sectors, such as steelmaking and transport.
‘This agreement represents a landmark moment in our commitment to clean energy,’ says Sophie Hermans, the Dutch Minister for Climate and Green Growth. ‘By linking Omani green hydrogen with Europe’s energy needs, we are advancing our shared climate goals and creating a sustainable energy pathway.’
The JDA builds on the existing partnership between Hydrom, the Omani Ministry of Energy and Minerals, Port of Amsterdam, ECOLOG and EnBW for the development of the liquid hydrogen corridor. This latest development is to result in delivering large-scale green hydrogen volumes from Oman to Europe by 2029.
Picture: HHLA supports pioneering hydrogen partnership between Oman and Europe (photo Port of Amsterdam through HHLA).
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