New environmental policy for Oman’s energy sector

FUEL DIVERSITY: Initiative to enable speedy uptake of renewable and alternative energy resources approved under the new fuel policy

Oman’s authorities are formulating a new National Environmental Policy for the Energy Sector (NEPES) aimed at ensuring that the nation’s landmark transition to renewable and alternative energy sources is in harmony with the country’s environmental safeguards.

Overseeing the delivery of a comprehensive and efficacious policy framework is the Implementation Support & Follow-up Unit (ISFU), a task force operating under the auspices of the Diwan of Royal Court. ISFU’S mandate is to ensure the timely implementation of a large portfolio of initiatives proposed by Tanfeedh, Sharakah and other programmes to help advance Oman’s economic diversification efforts.

Over the past year, Oman’s apex agency for the procurement of new power generation and water desalination capacity — Oman Power and Water Procurement Company (OPWP) — has announced plans for large-scale solar photovoltaic based, as well as wind-based, electricity generation capacity to be developed at key locations around the country. Also envisioned is the Sultanate’s first clean coal based power plant in Duqm and an equally innovative Waste-toenergy scheme in Barka.

While environmental standards governing the utilisation of natural gas, coal and crude are already in place, they are somewhat lacking when it comes to resources such as pet coke, diesel and renewables, according to an ISFU report on the initiative.

Many of these alternative fuels have been given the green-light for consideration as substitutes to valuable natural gas in the government’s newly approved Fuel Diversification Policy.

After all, a diversity of energy sources is seen as a strong enabler of growth of the manufacturing sector, says ISFU. “Many manufacturing projects and plans are energy intensive and require alternative and viable sources of energy. Deliberations in this sector include determining what variety of energy sources the Sultanate should pursue and rationalising their contribution to the country’s total energy production. Government policies and legislation related to energy production and their market value are also included in the focus of the proposed initiatives,” it has stressed.

Significantly, experts behind the drafting of the National Environmental Policy for the Energy Sector (NEPES) have identified “four focus areas where clear criteria are needed for environmental policy standards”. These comprise the Environment (air, water and waste), Pollutants (nitrous oxide, carbon dioxide, sulphur dioxide, among others), Health (severe and chronic breathing difficulties), and Externality Costs (waste disposal, healthcare, and so on).