Royal Decree 10/2023 Allocating Some Lands for the Purposes of Renewable Energy and Clean Hydrogen Projects

Arabic

We, Haitham bin Tarik, the Sultan of Oman

after perusal of the Basic Statute of the State,

Royal Decree 5/81 Governing the Usufruct of the Lands of the Sultanate of Oman,

Royal Decree 88/82 Adopting the Executive Regulation Governing the Usufruct of the Lands of the Sultanate of Oman,

the Oil and Gas Law promulgated by Royal Decree 8/2011,

Royal Decree 93/2020 Amending the Name of the Ministry of Housing to the Ministry of Housing and Urban Planning, Determining Its Competences, and Adopting Its Organisational Structure,

Royal Decree 96/2020 Amending the Name of the Ministry of Oil and Gas to the Ministry of Energy and Minerals, Determining Its Competences, and Adopting Its Organisational Structure,

and Royal Decree 128/2020 Establishing a Closed Omani Joint Stock Company Named Energy Development Oman SAOC,

and in pursuance of public interest,

have decreed as follows

Article I

Lands owned by the state and specified in the masterplan attached to this decree are hereby allocated for the purposes of renewable energy and clean hydrogen projects.

Article II

It is not permitted to grant any rights over the lands stipulated in article I of this decree or to dispose of them by the relevant government entities in any manner of disposal except with the prior written approval of the Ministry of Energy and Minerals.

Article III

The grant of usufruct of the lands stipulated in article I of this decree shall be to Hydrogen Oman Company on the basis of a request by the Ministry of Energy and Minerals detailing the area of the land subject of the usufruct in accordance with the legally prescribed procedures.

Article IV

Oman Hydrogen Company may divide the lands subject of the usufruct granted to it, and may contract with others to use these divided lands for the purposes of renewable energy and clean hydrogen projects by way of an auction subject to the principles of openness, equal opportunity, equality, and freedom of competition.

Article V

The Minister of Energy and Minerals may, within 30 (thirty) days from the date of the issuance of this decree, approve some projects allocated for renewable energy and clean hydrogen which have been signed without carrying out the auction stipulated in article IV of this decree.

Article VI

The Minister of Energy and Minerals shall issue the principles and controls for practising activities relating to renewable energy and clean hydrogen projects.

Article VII

All that is contrary to this decree, or in conflict with its provisions, is hereby repealed.

Article VIII

This decree shall be published in the Official Gazette, and comes into force on the date of its issuance.

Issued on: 25 Rajab 1444
Corresponding to: 16 February 2023

Haitham bin Tarik
Sultan of Oman