OTTCO named champion for green ammonia storage in Oman

Observer

3 days ago

MUSCAT, JULY 27
Oman Tank Terminal Company (OTTCO), a subsidiary of OQ – the Omani government–owned integrated energy company – has been designated as a 'National Champion' for central green ammonia storage.
This designation, announced by Hydrom – the master planner of Oman's green hydrogen sector – places OTTCO among a select group of predominantly state-owned utilities and energy companies tasked with developing and operating shared infrastructure, also known as Common User Infrastructure (CUI), to support the country's emerging gigawatt-scale green molecules industry.
Confirmation of OTTCO's new status came in a recent interview given by Eng. Abdulaziz al Shidhani, Managing Director of Hydrom, to The Energy Oman. Highlighting Hydrom's pivotal role in advancing the Sultanate's green hydrogen ambitions, he noted: 'We advise the government on policies and regulations to support a robust and investment-friendly framework. We lead auction processes and manage contracts. In parallel, we also serve as custodians of the Green Hydrogen Strategy, overseeing land master planning and the sector's long-term vision. Once projects are awarded, developers take the lead on execution, while we ensure coordination—especially for shared infrastructure.
To do that, we work closely with 'National Champions'—key public and private entities entrusted with specific responsibilities across the hydrogen value chain.
OQ Alternative Energy leads investment. Nama Water Services oversees water and power. OQ Gas Networks is responsible for gas transport. Oman Electricity Transmission Company manages power transmission. Most recently, Oman Tank Terminal Company was named National Champion for central green ammonia storage,' he added.
The move underscores the growing importance of green ammonia as both a versatile carrier of green hydrogen and a low-carbon fuel, particularly for hard-to-decarbonize sectors. Produced from renewable hydrogen and nitrogen, green ammonia (NH₃) is safer and more efficient to store and transport than pure hydrogen. It can also be used directly as a carbon-free fuel in shipping, power generation, and possibly industrial heating, offering a cleaner alternative to fossil fuels.
The maritime sector, in particular, is showing strong interest in ammonia as a zero-carbon bunker fuel, while green ammonia also provides a cleaner substitute for the global fertilizer industry, which is a significant source of CO₂ emissions.
OTTCO's designation expands its mandate beyond crude oil and fossil fuel-based storage and logistics into the realm of green molecules. Its flagship facility at Ras Markaz, spanning 40 square kilometres, currently offers 17.5 million barrels of storage capacity, with plans to scale up to a world-class 200 million barrels. The site also serves as a strategic hub for imported crude feeding the Duqm Refinery, located approximately 80 kilometres away.
According to OTTCO CEO Eng. Salem bin Marhoon al Hashmi, a recent strategic agreement between parent group OQ and Dutch liquid logistics giant Vopak aims to position Duqm as a global storage hub not only for fossil fuels, but also for green molecules such as green ammonia.
Several preliminary studies have already been completed to establish advanced infrastructure for the storage, handling, and export of green ammonia. OTTCO is also developing a shared smart storage infrastructure and seeking global partnerships to enable knowledge exchange and accelerate development.
Last week, Mohsin bin Hamad al Hadhrami, Under-Secretary of the Ministry of Energy and Minerals, accompanied Ashraf bin Hamad al Mamari, OQ Group CEO, on a visit to Ras Markaz and other facilities in Duqm. The visit aimed to highlight OTTCO's operations and future plans.