Dutch water and energy innovations shine at Oman Sustainability Week 2024

The Netherlands Pavilion emerged as a vibrant hub, drawing considerable foot traffic, and receiving esteemed guests, including the Omani Minister of Energy & Minerals, H.E. Salim Al Aufi, and the Omani Undersecretary of the Ministry of Transport, Communications, and Information Technology, Eng. Khamis Al-Shamakhi. The 14 Dutch innovators included sponsors Advario and Port of Rotterdam, Bluecon International, Boskalis, Colubris Cleantech, Deltares, Jotem Water Solutions, Kiwa, Nijhuis Saur Industries, RealPars, Van Oord, Vopak and Witteveen+Bos. They all helped make the event a great success. More info on the Dutch participation in OSW 2024 can be found in the Mission Booklet.

High-level speakers at the well attended Sustainability Talks

The Netherlands Embassy in Oman and NWP hosted 12 Sustainability Talks on Dutch Innovations at the Oman Sustainability Week. The well-attended Talks highlighted Dutch innovations in water treatment & water management and Dutch innovations in hydrogen, renewable energy & storage, driving forward the agenda for a more sustainable future.

Follow-up meetings

A closed-door meeting with Dr Firas Al Abduwani, Director General for Hydrogen & Renewable Energy at the Ministry of Energy & Minerals, was a conducive environment for fruitful discussions and collaborations. Another closed-door meeting was held with Nama Water Group’s divisions ­– Nama Power Water Procurement Company, Nama Dhofar Water Services, and Nama Water Services Strategic projects, and – paved the way for personalised follow-up meetings, facilitating deeper connections and potential partnerships. One of the first outcomes of the meeting with Nama Water Group’s divisions was that a delegation from Nama Water Group visited the Netherlands Pavilion at IFAT Munich, hosted by NWP, this week. Other one-on-one follow-up meetings have already been scheduled.

Networking galore

The networking activities included a group dinner and the Kings Day reception, hosted by the Embassy of the Kingdom of the Netherlands in the Sultanate of Oman. The reception was well attended, with more than 400 guests. Existing business relationships were strengthened and new connections were made.

Roundtable on Water and Energy Management for Growing Cities

MEDRC, a renowned international organisation dedicated to tackling freshwater scarcity, hosted a captivating roundtable on Water and Energy Management for Growing Cities at the Oman Sustainability Week 2024. Bringing together a diverse array of stakeholders, the roundtable featured seven insightful sessions, each exploring a different facet of water and management and energy transition. From discussions on urban decentralisation and water reclamation to innovative forecasting tools for mitigating flood risks, participants delved into the most pressing challenges facing growing cities. The roundtable attracted 35 participants actively engaged in constructive dialogue and idea-sharing. Building on the momentum generated by the roundtable, another event planned for autumn of this year promises to further advance knowledge exchange on Water and Climate Resilience toward catalysing action.

Agreement signed by Advario and the Port of Sohar

One of the Dutch participants, Advario, joined the Sohar Port and Freezone Net-Zero Alliance at a signing ceremony at Oman Sustainability Week. Sohar Port and Freezone is a deep-sea port and adjacent free zone in Oman, midway between Dubai and Muscat. In a collaborative effort, Sohar Port and Freezone and its industrial tenants are working to accelerate Oman’s transition towards a carbon-neutral future in which alternative and green energy sources, including green hydrogen, will play a significant role. The signing of the agreement between Advario and the Port of Sohar was a significant milestone, underscoring the commitment to sustainable practices and mutual growth.

Creating new business opportunities

In summary, Netherlands Pavilion participants look back on a busy week leading to countless new business opportunities. The Oman Sustainability Week 2024 strengthened the ties between the Dutch water and energy sector and their Omani counterparts, laying the groundwork for continued collaboration towards a more sustainable future.

We look forward to the next Oman Sustainability Week (OSW), from 11 to 15 May 2025. If you want to know more about being part of the Netherlands Pavilion coordinated by NWP at either the next OSW or at various events worldwide, contact Marieke Leenhouts at m.leenhouts@nwp.nl 

Do you want to connect with the Dutch water sector? Contact us at info@nwp.nl

About Oman

Oman is investing heavily in the energy transition and is programming a large stream of wind and solar projects to produce and export clean energy. The country is attracting new investments for these projects from partners in the region and the wider world. This progress is important since the transition to a sustainable economy requires a lot of water in and of itself.  

Oman Sustainability Week (OSW) is the Sultanate of Oman’s national event fully dedicated to sustainability. The weeklong event is an enriching platform for the industry to network, demonstrate innovative strategies aligned with the UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), and engage with the national stakeholders.

Among the supporters of the OSW2024 were the Oman Environment Authority, the Oman Hydrogen Centre, the Oman Clean Energy Council, the Ministry of Economy, and the Ministry of Foreign Affairs.