Oman: Key geotechnical work completed for Duqm green ammonia project
Finalised in April 2025, the fieldwork included deep and shallow borehole drilling, Cone Penetration Testing (CPT), and detailed assessments of pipeline routes and marine anchoring points. These investigations provide the technical foundation for the design and construction of the green ammonia facility, a strategic project aligned with Oman Vision 2040's goals for economic diversification and renewable energy leadership.
In a statement, Darkocean Geostar UAE, the company leading the survey efforts, said the work equips developers and regulators with the essential data needed to support safe and sustainable engineering decisions for the project.
'This marks a critical milestone in the development of the Duqm ammonia plant,' said Dr Surya Kumar Ippenta, PMP, Managing Director of Darkocean Geostar. 'Our work provides stakeholders with the data needed to advance Oman's sustainable industrial future.'
Duqm is rapidly positioning itself as a key hub in Oman's green energy value chain, attracting global attention for its strategic port access, industrial infrastructure, and growing cluster of hydrogen and ammonia ventures. The upcoming ammonia plant is expected to utilise green hydrogen produced from renewable energy sources, converting it into ammonia for export to global markets seeking low-carbon fuel alternatives.
Alongside the geotechnical surveys, Darkocean Geostar is currently conducting oceanographic data collection at the project site. This next phase will provide crucial insights into marine currents, sediment movement, and environmental dynamics—information necessary for infrastructure planning and environmental compliance.
Industry observers emphasise the importance of such data in de-risking major infrastructure investments and expediting regulatory approvals. The timely completion of field investigations strengthens confidence among investors and project stakeholders involved in Oman's clean energy sector.
The Duqm SEZ, under the supervision of the Public Authority for Special Economic Zones and Free Zones (OPAZ), is a cornerstone of the Sultanate of Oman's strategy to become a regional leader in green fuels. With critical fieldwork now complete, the ammonia project is poised to advance into design, permitting, and construction, marking another step in Oman's transition toward a sustainable energy future.
2022 © All right reserved for Oman Establishment for Press, Publication and Advertising (OEPPA) Provided by SyndiGate Media Inc. (Syndigate.info).
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Arabian Business
42 minutes ago
- Arabian Business
Author Archives: Sandeep Chandna
Sandeep Chandna is Chief Sustainability Officer at Tech Mahindra. With a profound track record in the technology industry and extensive knowledge in sustainability, Sandeep brings a wealth of expertise and experience to the organization. He plays a key role in offering strategic guidance by formulating and implementing comprehensive strategies, policies, and procedures to align Tech Mahindra's business operations with sustainability objectives. Sandeep has been an integral part of Tech Mahindra, contributing significantly to the company's growth and success. By keeping sustainability at the forefront, he ensures that it is embedded in Tech Mahindra's culture as well as vision. Sandeep is also Chief Customer Officer of Tech Mahindra with a 360-degree view of our customers' requirements. His deep understanding of the industry and unparalleled insights has been instrumental in driving innovation and delivering exceptional results. Before joining Tech Mahindra, Sandeep amassed a rich portfolio of experiences at renowned organizations in multiple sectors marked by pivotal roles and impactful contributions. Under his leadership, Tech Mahindra has achieved significant milestones such as being the only Indian company to receive HRH The Prince of Wales' Terra Carta Seal in 2021 along with top position in various sustainability disclosures and indices such as CDP, DJSI, EcoVadis, and more. As a versatile, goal-driven and result oriented executive, he has a proven track record of over 25 years. His outstanding contributions have gained numerous awards and recognitions in sustainability. He has recently been acknowledged in the 'Top 100 CSOs 2023' by Sustainability Magazine, achieving the notable 14th position, in addition to being recognized as the 'BW Sustainability World Businessperson of the Year' at the Sustainable World Conclave 2023 as a testament to his commitment to excellence and innovation in sustainability. Sandeep also actively engages in key industry forums like NASSCOM and UNGC to share insights, collaborate with peers, and shape the future of sustainability in technology. Sandeep has a degree in Computer Engineering (B.E) and an MBA from Pune University. Additionally, he has completed the Mitsui GMA Program from Harvard Business School. Financing a greener future: The rise of sustainable finance by Sandeep Chandna With the world's evolving challenges, financial institutions now recognise their power to fund initiatives that promote long-term sustainability
Zawya
an hour ago
- Zawya
Fine Hygienic Holding honored as Founding Member of The UN Global Compact Network Jordan
Amman, Jordan – Fine Hygienic Holding (FHH), one of the world's leading wellness groups and hygienic paper manufacturers, was recently honored by the United Nations Global Compact (UNGC) Network Jordan at its inaugural annual breakfast and general assembly meeting. This distinguished recognition celebrates FHH's significant role as a founding member of the network and its ongoing contributions to corporate sustainability. Established in 2007, the UNGC Network Jordan was founded by a select group of pioneering companies, with Fine Hygienic Holding among them. Since its inception, FHH has played a pivotal role, serving on the network board and actively contributing to its growth, which now brings together over 60 members. Osama Abu Ragheb, Jordan Supply Chain Director at Fine Hygienic Holding, expressed deep gratitude for the acknowledgment, stating, 'We are honored by this recognition. At Fine Hygienic Holding, we firmly believe in the critical role sustainability plays in shaping a responsible future, and we are committed to advancing it at the grassroots level. We are here to lead by example, helping companies across Jordan bring sustainability to the heart of their operations.' The UN Global Compact Country Networks, such as the UNGC Network Jordan, support local businesses in implementing the Ten Principles of human rights, labor, environment, and anti-corruption, while advancing the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). Leveraging regional expertise, they guide companies in adopting responsible practices tailored to local contexts. Fine Hygienic Holding continues to align its operations with the UN SDGs. Earlier this year, the group received EcoVadis Commitment Badge, a 'B' Score from the Carbon Disclosure Project (CDP), and CHEP's Excellence in Sustainability Certificate. These recognitions, along with FHH's foundational support and ongoing active participation, underscore its commitment to fostering a sustainable business environment in Jordan and the region.
Zawya
2 hours ago
- Zawya
De-risking Africa's renewable energy agenda
Every driver starts a long journey with the same question: am I prepared for potential issues? The spare tyre is checked, fluids topped up, and the route carefully mapped. Preparation is built in from the start, not improvised when conditions change. What ultimately determines the success of the journey is whether the vehicle is structurally equipped to withstand the road ahead. Investing in renewable energy infrastructure in Africa follows much the same principle. The underlying proposition is clear: there is demand, resource abundance, and long-term value, all warranting the investment journey. However, viability is determined by design. Currency risk, offtake uncertainty, construction timelines, and political transition are embedded features of the landscape. Yet, the financial and risk mitigation tools needed to manage these – like hedging instruments, risk guarantees, liquidity buffers, or blended capital, are not consistently used. Often, they are misaligned with market realities: too costly, too late, or designed for risk profiles that don't match local conditions. The result is exclusion, with projects stalling not for lack of merit, but for lack of structural readiness to carry risk from origination to execution. Additionally, when the probability of adverse events that impair investment value is perceived to be high, investors respond in predictable ways: either by walking away from the opportunity or by demanding higher returns to compensate for the anticipated volatility. Both responses create a widening gap between capital availability and project viability. This becomes particularly consequential when measured against the continent's developmental objectives. The African Union has set a target of 300 gigawatts of renewable energy capacity by 2030 – more than four times the 72 gigawatts installed as of end-2023, according to BloombergNEF. The International Energy Agency estimates that achieving this scale will require annual energy investment across the continent to rise from USD 110 billion today to over USD 200 billion by 2030, with clean power generation and enabling infrastructure absorbing the bulk of that increase. The cost of capital becomes a defining variable here. Most African governments face fiscal constraints that limit their ability to directly fund clean energy infrastructure, with high debt servicing costs further narrowing fiscal space. This has entrenched a reliance on external capital – from DFIs, which may offer lower or concessional rates, and from local and international financiers, who must price in elevated risk. Even in markets with clear policy signals and successful project track records, the cost of capital remains materially higher than global benchmarks. Overcoming these barriers will require innovative financing solutions, and more importantly, risk mitigation that is embedded from the outset. In an ideal context, regionally integrated policy interventions would create durable, investor-aligned regulatory environments – reducing the likelihood of project disruptions linked to permitting delays or sudden legislative shifts. Yet such reforms are complex, resource-intensive, and slow to take hold. By contrast, financial risk mitigation instruments can be deployed more rapidly, offering immediate support to project structuring while longer-term reforms take shape. Hedging is one of the most critical instruments in this regard. It functions as a shock absorber – protecting returns in the event of unanticipated rate hikes, currency depreciation, or inflationary pressure. It reduces exposure to financial volatility, helping improve bankability by lowering perceived risk. And by stabilising cash flows, it supports investor confidence in the long-term viability of a project. However, traditional financial hedging tools are not always viable or cost-effective for managing financial risk in African energy markets – particularly in relation to foreign exchange volatility. Currency convertibility constraints, thin derivatives markets, and limited availability of long-tenor instruments make it difficult to secure protection against depreciation or payment delays. Local currency financing, while structurally desirable, remains limited in scale, expensive in cost, and often unavailable at the tenors required for infrastructure. These dynamics expose both developers and lenders to significant valuation and repayment risk, especially in jurisdictions where power purchase agreements are denominated in local currency but backed by dollar- or euro-based financing. Beyond mitigating translation risk, hedging has increasingly played a pivotal role in supporting currency convertibility – particularly in markets with intermittent foreign exchange liquidity. In some jurisdictions, these instruments are facilitated directly by central banks or structured through commercial banks with central bank backing, offering a critical layer of protection where capital markets cannot. Where even these tools are unavailable, developers often turn to tailored contractual structures – aligning pricing, payment terms, and currency exposure – to create natural hedges that offer stability through design rather than financial engineering. As renewable investment scales across the continent, conventional risk tools will need to be complemented by market-responsive strategies that reflect the institutional and financial realities of each context. These questions are likely to shape the agenda at the Africa Energy Forum 2025 – where, under the theme 'Africa United', stakeholders will be called to develop coherent approaches to risk that align ambition with executable design. Investors often point to a shortage of bankable projects on the continent, signalling the need for more equity at early stages, where risk is highest and structure is most consequential. Early-stage support – whether in the form of catalytic equity, concessional finance, or targeted risk-sharing mechanisms – deployed with greater risk appetite and paired with relevant policy reform, can help anchor project design and absorb volatility. But to build a truly investable environment, these inputs must be matched by innovative financing and risk management strategies designed for the realities of African markets. To support this, financial institutions with deep market presence and structuring expertise play a pivotal role in translating ambition into bankable execution. For example, in South Africa, Absa provides clients with access to a full spectrum of risk management instruments – from long-tenor interest rate and inflation-linked swaps to foreign exchange forwards and options, enabling more predictable financial outcomes across multi-year horizons. Across the continent, Absa's multi-asset structuring teams work with sovereign, financial, and corporate clients to design tailored hedging, secured financing, and balance sheet solutions that respond to local market conditions while meeting institutional investment standards. When markets offer credible instruments, capable institutions, and solutions aligned to real-world risk, investment decisions become less speculative and more strategic. The driver, in this case, sets out not because the road is guaranteed to be smooth, but because the destination holds promise – and the vehicle has been set up to endure the journey. Copyright © 2022 - All materials can be used freely, indicating the origin Provided by SyndiGate Media Inc. (
