Fuel marketers expand EV charging network across Oman

Oman Oil Marketing Company SAOG (OOMCO), a subsidiary of OQ Group, has announced the successful installation of 12 EV charging stations at strategic locations around the Sultanate of Oman – part of an ongoing drive by fuel marketing companies, among other businesses, to accelerate the adoption of electric vehicles in the country.

The rollout of EV charging infrastructure complements a series of initiatives pursued by OOMCO, among other fuel marketing companies, in support of their respective decarbonisation strategies as well as the country’s national e-mobility strategy.

“OOMCO is also moving steadily toward E-mobility and completed the installation of 12 fast chargers and connecting major routes in Oman highway to become the widest network of EV chargers in Oman,” the company’s Chairman said in the Directors’ Report for H1 2024.

Further, in a bid to reduce its carbon footprint associated with the use of fossil fuel linked electricity supply, as many as 12 fuel stations have now been powered by solar PV systems.

“OOMCO is continuing with its sustainability journey to reduce its carbon footprint as it produced 1893 MWh cumulatively of electricity from solar sources in its 12 stations which was consumed at its stations and the remaining was feed to the grid which resulted in a recovery of 1325 tonnes of CO2,” the Chairman stated.

Additionally, the company continues to roll out the installation of Vapour Recovery Units at its fuel stations. These units, designed to collect petrol vapour released during unloading and refueling back into underground storage tank, help reduce emissions. As many as 25 fuel stations have so far been equipped with such units, contributing to emission reductions of 952 tonnes during the first half of this year.

In line with its strategy to expand its footprint locally and internationally, OOMCO has seen its network grow to a total of 237 service stations as of June 2024. The company has also launched five new service stations across the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, including its first station in Riyadh, taking its network strength in the Kingdom to 35 service stations to date. In Tanzania, the company operates 12 stations.

Shell Oman Marketing Company, another key player in the fuel marketing sector, said the company is making headway in the deployment of green mobility solutions, as well as the establishment of the first EV hub in Oman.

Walid Hadi, Chairman, stated: “During this quarter, the company is in final stages of negotiating strategic partnerships with key stakeholders for EV chargers’ infrastructure and various aspects of the energy sector and its readiness for energy transition as well as for the widespread adoption of EV for mobility. In addition, Shell Oman is on track to deliver its first hydrogen service station in the Sultanate and the Middle East by year-end.

The station shall include various services including, and not limited to, on-site hydrogen fuel generation and fueling facilities, Shell V-Power and other grades of fuel, non-fuel convenient retailing options as well as the first EV hub in Oman,” Hadi added in the Directors Report for H1 2024.