SMEDA Announces Green Hydrogen Training Program for SMEs in Oman

The Small and Medium Enterprises Development Authority (SMEDA) has announced that it is accepting applications for a specialised training programme in green hydrogen and renewables. According to a recent post by the Authority, the five-week programme will target SMEs and start-ups with the aim of equipping entrepreneurs with the necessary skills to enter the renewables industry and to accelerate the growth and expansion rate of companies in the market. The programme, which will be executed in collaboration with Australian vocational education and training institution TAFE NSW, will highlight several topics within the field of renewables including: climate change, biomass, and electric vehicles. The programme will also feature workshops focused on business development, business matching, and operating on a global scale.

According to the Authority, the course will host various international guests and local speakers in the field. With an annual production rate of 1 million tonnes of green hydrogen by 2030, Oman is projected to potentially become the world's sixth largest exporter of green hydrogen, according to the International Energy Agency (IEA). Oman could also potentially generate annual revenues of US$2 billion from the export and domestic use of green hydrogen starting from 2030. The figure could potentially rise to “double-digit US Dollar billion levels” in the long term, according to the report. Furthermore, Oman's National Strategy for the Orderly Transition to Net Zero has the potential to fuel an additional 50% contribution to GDP by 2050. Two-thirds of this growth is expected to come from domestic investment in hydrogen, including export infrastructure, while the remaining one-third will come from expanded green power capacity. Interested applicants can apply via website of SMEDA before June 13, 2024. The programme will take place from June 23 to July 24, 2024.