BUDDING SEEDS
Green energy programs are still in the early stages; the anticipated arrival of several large solar and wind projects should begin to reshape the Omani energy industry.
Hydrocarbons will not stop being the foundation of the Omani economy anytime soon, but the Sultanate has begun to take meaningful steps toward adding new sources of renewable energy to its economic mix. Oman's geography gives it significant solar and wind generation potential, and the government has been aggressive in forming new investment deals with experienced firms to take advantage of these opportunities. 2017 has seen Oman sign a number of agreements to bring major wind and solar plants online, projects that promise to open up new opportunities for economic growth and bode well for the Sultanate's future energy independence.
Oman well recognizes that its current energy policies are not conducive to long-term growth. Although the Sultanate's oil and natural gas reserves are significant, they are not large enough to allow for domestic consumption and exports at current growth rates; at present, 97.5% of Oman's power comes from natural gas, and with consumption accelerating due to a population that is projected to grow by 2.4 million by 2040, gas imports are only expected to increase, placing new pressure on Oman's coffers. To resolve its looming energy problems, the government has examined a host of technologies and ultimately decided to focus its energies on wind and solar power generation. Oman's geography makes it a natural fit for these technologies; its dry climate and location near the equator give it one of the highest solar densities in the world, and its long coastline and exposure to strong seasonal monsoon winds mean it has tremendous wind energy potential.
SOLAR
The rapidly falling price of solar energy has made it an appealing option for Middle Eastern countries, and Oman is no different. Though the sector is still very much in its early states, the last few years have seen the Omani government sign its first major agreements for large-scale solar projects. In 2014, Swiss firm Terra Nex signed a USD2-billion project to develop 400MW of solar energy across the Sultanate, the first such deal in Oman's history. Through mid-2017, Oman's government was working to prepare the tender for a 200-MW photovoltaic solar plant, the first step toward adding a large-scale solar plant. Projected to be operational by 2020, the project is part of the Omani power utility to add more than 1,600MW of solar energy. The Omani government's challenge in moving toward renewable technologies is more than just signing deals for large projects, however; industry officials recognize that they will need to change household consumption habits to make a difference. Oman's policy of heavy electricity subsidies has resulted in soaring electricity use, but the government believes that smaller photovoltaic units might hold the potential to reshape the sector, keeping energy costs down and reducing emissions. Small photovoltaic cells have already begun to gain a foothold as a way to power heaters and other small household equipment, and plans are in place to develop new subsidies for these residential photovoltaic projects, which government officials estimate have the potential to generate more than 1.4GW of renewable energy if implemented nationwide.
WIND
As with solar, 2017 has seen the nascent wind power industry come to the forefront with the announcement of a number of major projects. The USD200-million Harwheel project, the first large-scale wind farm in the Sultanate, is currently under construction. Once operational, the 200,000-sqm farm is expected to generate 50MW, half of Dhofar Governorate demand during the winter. Construction and engineering is being provided by a consortium of international companies that include an Abu Dhabi renewable energy company, General Electric, and Spanish renewable energy firm TSK—a mark of Oman's global reach and ability to leverage preexisting free trade connections into sustainable development. One of the disadvantages of wind energy as compared to solar is its inconsistency and land-use needs, but Oman's sparsely populated southern and eastern regions make it a good fit for the technology. Moreover, Oman receives its strongest winds during the summer when energy demand is at its highest, making the seasonal nature of wind flows less of an issue. Studies have estimated that installations in southern Oman could provide 15% of Oman's energy needs, but it remains to be seen how aggressively the Omani government will move to add capacity in the face of low traditional energy prices.

TABLE OF CONTENTS
Focus: Oman-Iran Relations
Nothing Personal
A new automotive production venture and undersea gas pipeline project highlight the long-term and historic friendship between Oman and Iran, underscoring their policies of transparency and non-interference with the aim of achieving the best possible conditions for the economies and people of both countries.
read articleInterview
Abdullah Nasser Abdullah Al Bakri, Minister , Manpower (MoM)
TBY talks to Abdullah Nasser Abdullah Al Bakri, Minister of Manpower (MoM), on its ongoing efforts to boost Omanization across sectors, streamlining the employment process in the private sector, and developing human resources in the country.
read articleInterview
HE Talal Al Rahbi, Deputy Secretary General , Supreme Council for Planning (SCP)
TBY talks to HE Talal Al Rahbi, Deputy Secretary General of the Supreme Council for Planning (SCP), on its key responsibilities, ensuring a more sustainable policy, and the importance of economic diversification.
read articleInterview
Dr. Hilal Al-Qamshoey, Project Director, Oman National Spatial Strategy (ONSS)
TBY talks to Dr. Hilal Al-Qamshoey, Project Director of Oman National Spatial Strategy (ONSS), on the importance of addressing the challenges to growth, assessing potential, and attracting greater FDI.
read articleInterview
Khalid Al Yahmadi, CEO, Muscat National Development and Investment Company (ASAAS)
TBY talks to Khalid Al Yahmadi, CEO of Muscat National Development and Investment Company (ASAAS), on its projects to diversify Oman's economy, sectors with growth potential, and its goals for 2018.
read articleCommuniqué: Ithraa
Exports Matter
Exports matter because they represent the very sectors that drive wealth, attract investment and talent, boost productivity and innovation, and generate employment. Industry accounted for 47.6% of Oman's GDP in 2017 and our non-oil exports were over USD6.2 billion. Today, Omani firms export to 135 countries.
read articleInterview
Khalifa Abdullah Al-Barwani, CEO, National Center for Statistics and Information (NCSI)
TBY talks to Khalifa Abdullah Al-Barwani, CEO of the National Center for Statistics and Information (NCSI), on the many benefits of its information apps, the growing focus on logistics, and supporting the public and private sectors with valuable data.
read articleInterview
Dr. Dhafir Awadh Al-Shanfari, CEO, Oman Authority for Partnership for Development (OAPFD)
TBY talks to Dr. Dhafir Awadh Al-Shanfari, CEO of Oman Authority for Partnership for Development (OAPFD), on the goals of the authority, its current projects, and its focus for the medium term.
read articleInterview
Khalid bin Al Safi Al Haribi, Acting CEO, Public Authority for SMEs Development (Riyada)
TBY talks to Khalid bin Al Safi Al Haribi, Acting CEO of the Public Authority for SMEs Development (Riyada), on instilling an entrepreneurship culture amongst Omanis, key areas for development, and doing more with less.
read articleInterview
Yaqoob Saif Al Kiyumi, CEO, Oman Power and Water Procurement Company (OPWP)
TBY talks to Yaqoob Saif Al Kiyumi, CEO of Oman Power and Water Procurement Company (OPWP), on the challenges of growing water and electricity demand, planning for renewable energy projects, and its key objectives in the long term.
read articleInterview
HE Tahir Bin Salim Bin Abdullah Al Amri, Executive President, Central Bank of Oman (CBO)
TBY talks to HE Tahir Bin Salim Bin Abdullah Al Amri, Executive President of the Central Bank of Oman (CBO), on revising the country's FDI laws, financing the fiscal debt via issuing bonds, and its efforts to promote SMEs.
read articleInterview
HE Abdullah Salim Al Salmi, Executive President, Capital Market Authority (CMA)
TBY talks to HE Abdullah Salim Al Salmi, Executive President of the Capital Market Authority (CMA), on promoting greater activity in the financial services sector, encouraging investors to go beyond the banking sector, and its upcoming projects.
read articleInterview
Dr. Ashraf bin Nabhan Al Nabhani, Chairman, Muscat Securities Market (MSM)
TBY talks to Dr. Ashraf bin Nabhan Al Nabhani, Chairman of Muscat Securities Market (MSM), on the evolution and maturity of the stock market, increased privatization initiatives, and plans to demutualize.
read articleInterview
Murtaza Jariwala, Executive Director, Vanguard Engineering & Oilfield Service
TBY talks to Murtaza Jariwala, Executive Director of Vanguard Engineering & Oilfield Services, on manufacturing and value addition, successful long-term partnerships, and how to best thrive as a truly local company.
read articleInterview
Hilal Mohammed Hamoud Al Busaidi, CEO, Public Authority for Mining (PAM)
TBY talks to Hilal Mohammed Hamoud Al Busaidi, CEO of the Public Authority for Mining (PAM), on increasing metal exploration, sharing the risk with investors, and banking on the rare commodity of quality.
read articleInterview
Dr. Salim Sultan Al Ruzaiqi, CEO, Information Technology Authority (ITA)
TBY talks to Dr. Salim Sultan Al Ruzaiqi, CEO of Information Technology Authority (ITA), on facilitating the investment experience in Oman, taking a coordinated approach to cybersecurity, and giving young people the right exposure.
read articleInterview
Firas A. H. Al-Abduwani, Founder & CEO, Hussam Technology Company (HTC)
TBY talks to Firas A. H. Al-Abduwani, Founder & CEO, and Mohammed Al-Abduwani, COO of Hussam Technology Company (HTC), on making Oman a better place to do business, meeting an ever-expanding customer base, and diversifying one's project capacity.
read articleInterview
Sheikh Aimen Ahmed Sultan Al-Hosni, CEO, Oman Airports Management Company (OAMC)
TBY talks to Sheikh Aimen Ahmed Sultan Al-Hosni, CEO of Oman Airports Management Company (OAMC), on providing a functioning operational platform, top notch end-to-end logistics, and creating competitive advantages for Omani shippers.
read articleFocus: Integrated Tourism Complexes
A Land for All
Oman's integrated tourism complexes (ITCs) allow foreign nationals to own property on a freehold basis. They have given the country's tourism and real estate sectors an innovative boost and might pave the way for further liberalization.
read articleInterview
HE Hamed Said Al-Oufi, Undersecretary, Fisheries Wealth of the Ministry of Agriculture & Fisheries Wealth
TBY talks to HE Hamed Said Al-Oufi, Undersecretary of Fisheries Wealth of the Ministry of Agriculture & Fisheries Wealth, on food security, opportunities for development in the industry, and new infrastructure projects.
read articleInterview
Eng. Saleh M. Al Shanfari, CEO, Oman Food Investment Holding Company (OFIC)
TBY talks to Eng. Saleh M. Al Shanfari, CEO of Oman Food Investment Holding Company (OFIC), on Oman's competitive advantages in food, growing demand for diverse food products, and becoming a regional food hub.
read articleInterview
Ahmed Akaak, Chairman, Oman National Livestock Development Company (ONLDC)
TBY talks to Ahmed Akaak, Chairman of the Oman National Livestock Development Company (ONLDC), on partnerships to boost the quality of animal feeds, the agriculture industry, and the Sultanate's national economy.
read articleReview: Education
New School
Oman's education sector has made massive strides in recent years, and moving forward, government officials see improving teacher quality and increasing international exchange as keys to giving a young and growing population the tools they need for the future.
read articleInterview
HE Dr. Hamood Khalfan Al Harthi, Undersecretary of Education & Curriculum , Ministry of Education
TBY talks to HE Dr. Hamood Khalfan Al Harthi, Undersecretary of Education & Curriculum of the Ministry of Education, on meeting international standards, increasing the teaching staff, and implementing reforms.
read article