The Public Authority for Special Economic Zones and Free Zones (OPAZ) has applauded ACME, a leading company in the renewable energy sector, on the receipt of the first-ever international certificate accredited for commercial production of green hydrogen and ammonia in the world. ACME was awarded this certificate for its project in the Special Economic Zone at Duqm (SEZAD) — one of the zones supervised by OPAZ.

The company received this certificate from TÜV Rheinland, the leading international provider of inspection services which also specialises in independent certification services in the renewable energy sector.

The evaluation process, conducted by the German inspection company for ACME’s green hydrogen project in Duqm, proved that the project meets all the standards set to be globally certified. The process included reviewing the various specified production methods, transportation methods and the different hydrogen applications in the project, said OPAZ in a statement.

This international certification for commercial production of green hydrogen and ammonia allows the potential customers of this promising industry to ensure that the ammonia and hydrogen of these plants have been produced from renewable energy resources such as wind and sunlight.

This, further, attracts various international companies to invest in the renewable energy sector in the Sultanate of Oman and SEZAD in particular. It also promotes the government’s efforts to boost the Sultanate of Oman’s position on the global map in the field of green hydrogen production and export as the first country in the world to be awarded this international certificate. This acknowledgment will as well contribute to the shift to alternative energy and diversifying sources of income in accordance with Oman Vision 2040.

Commenting on this international certificate, Eng Yahya bin Khamis al Zadjali, Head of Operations - SEZAD, said, “We are pleased that ACME has received this certificate, emphasising the promising future of renewable energy sector in SEZAD, which enjoys a strategic location close to the resources of global energy. In addition, the Zone is furnished with a package of infrastructure including ports and roads, which will facilitate the export of this energy to various countries around the world.”

Manoj Upadhyay, Chairman of ACME Company, stated: “We are happy to receive the world’s first Green Hydrogen Certification from TUV Rhineland for our commercial-scale Green Hydrogen and Ammonia project in Duqm, Sultanate of Oman. This is a major milestone for our project in Duqm. The Green Hydrogen Certification will pave the way for defining the criteria and process for the green certification.”

Jalal bin Abdulkarim al Lawati of OPAZ remarked: “ACME’s certificate marks a great achievement for renewable energy sector in the Sultanate of Oman and will contribute to localising this industry for which OPAZ has allocated about 200 sq km in Duqm. OPAZ also continues to study many other investments applications in this sector in other free zones such as Suhar, Salalah and Al Mazunah, in addition to Duqm.”

ACME, one of the largest companies in the alternative energy sector in India, recently announced a joint venture with the Norwegian company Scatec to support the green hydrogen project in Duqm. ACME also signed last August a land reservation agreement with OPAZ at Duqm. The project is expected to produce 100,000 tonnes of green ammonia annually in the first phase.