Oman’s OQ explores carbon capture to greenify ammonia production

Oman explores low-carbon ammonia generation: Omani state-owned energy investment company OQ signed an agreement with the Oman India Fertiliser Company (Omifco) to explore including carbon capture tech at its Sur ammonia-urea fertilizer production plant, Oman Daily Observer quotes Vice President of Low Carbon Molecules at OQ Ghalib Al Maamari as saying. The plant produces 3.5 tons of ammonia daily. The upgrade would produce low-carbon ammonia by using carbon capture and storage tech to reduce emissions.

Who is Omifco? The joint venture was established in 2002 between the Indian and Omani governments for the purpose of launching the Sur plant, according to its company profile. OQ has a 50% stake in Omifco, while the remaining stake is split equally between Indian Farmers Fertiliser Cooperative Limited and Indian firm Krishak Bharati Cooperative.

OQ has other plans in the works as well: OQ signed in December an MoU with Japanese investment company Sumitomo, shipping firm AP Moller-Maersk, and Omani logistics company Asyad to conduct a feasibility study on the green ammonia and methanol production potential at Duqm and Salalah ports. OQ also signed an MoU with the Oman India Fertiliser Company to explore the feasibility of blue hydrogen generation in the country’s eastern province of Sur. The price tag of OQ’s green and low-carbon ammonia projects “is going to be in excess of USD 40 bn” once fully developed, and would generate more than 30 GW of energy, nearly triple the size of the country’s current electricity grid capacity, the outlet quotes Al Maamari as saying.