MUSCAT, SEPT 22
The Sultanate of Oman, with its strategic location, energy expertise and commitment to Net-Zero by 2050, is well positioned to become a regional hub for carbon markets and low-carbon technologies, according to experts.
Panelists who attended the Oman Climate Week recently also stressed the need for capacity building, robust regulatory frameworks, and private sector engagement to unlock the potential of Article 6 in the MENA region.
“The Sultanate of Oman is situated at the crossroads of global shipping lanes and is capable of offering easy export access to key energy markets in Asia and Europe. Besides the natural resources, the abundant sunlight and strong, and steady winds that it receives create ideal conditions for low-cost solar and wind power generation,” said Dr Said al Sarmi, Senior Net-Zero Expert and Oman Article 6 DNA, Net-Zero Centre.
The other panelists, Mahmoud Fathallah, Senior Economist, League of Arab States, Prof Nasser Ayoub, Managing Director, CLC EPD MENA International EPD System, Omar al Ajaji, Advisory Services Sector Manager, Voluntary Carbon Market Company (VCM), Kenichiro Yamaguchi, Fellow, Energy and Sustainability, Mitsubishi Research Institute, and Karan Khimji, Chief Commercial Officer of Khimji Group, opined that decades of experience in large-scale oil and gas engineering provide Oman with the technical skills and workforce needed to build complex energy infrastructure.
“This is accentuated by the national green hydrogen ambitions whereby Oman is aiming to produce 1 million tonnes of green hydrogen per year by 2030, backed by massive investments in alternative energy,” they said.
Oman Climate Week 2026, which was held last week in Muscat on Monday, brought together policymakers, investors and climate experts to discuss energy transition, climate finance and adaptation strategies. A high-level panel discussion on the implementation of Article 6 of the UN Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) was held as a side event of the second edition of Oman Climate Week, organised by the Environment Authority.
The session, titled "UNFCCC Side Event: Article 6 Implementation", brought together international and regional experts to discuss how carbon markets and cooperative approaches can accelerate climate action and help achieve Net-Zero goals.
Speakers on the panel, which was moderated by Walters Tubua, Regional Lead, RCC West and Central Africa, further highlighted the importance of transforming climate agreements into tangible results, with Article 6 providing the framework for voluntary cooperation through market and non-market mechanisms. The discussion focused on ensuring environmental integrity, transparency, and sustainable development benefits for host countries, while avoiding double counting.
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