Thursday 27 / June / 2024
Muscat: Amid ongoing action to enable new dealers to import electric vehicles (EVs) directly from manufacturers, the EVs in the Sultanate of Oman exceeded 400.
Eng. Khamis Mohammed Al Shamakhi, Undersecretary of the Ministry of Transport, Communications and Information Technology for Transport, outlined initiatives to manufacture EVs at the Special Economic Zone in Duqm (SEZAD).
The number of EV charging stations stands at 100 now and it is hoped that the number will grow to 300 in the next two years serving all governorates of the Sultanate of Oman, he added.
Al Shamakhi pointed out that a list of such facilities has been approved by the relevant authorities to help meet the growing demand for EVs which, he said, are being marketed by automobile agents. The high cost of the EVs remains the only pending issue, ongoing attempts are being made to enable new agents to import less expensive, safe and high-quality EVs, he affirmed.
Al Shamakhi explained that the use of EVs fits with the Sultanate of Oman’s drive to achieve zero carbon neutrality by 2050, noting that the transport sector is responsible for 18 percent of Oman’s greenhouse gas emissions.
Al Shamakhi stressed that Oman is committed to the Paris Agreement on climate change. Towards this goal, Oman keeps holding conferences and signing agreements, following its proclamation of zero carbon emissions by 2050.
Oman will also participate in the COP28, scheduled to be held at the United Arab Emirates at the end of November 2023, said Al Shamakhi. He added that the event will provide an opportunity to highlight Oman’s efforts and initiatives aimed at cutting down carbon emissions for the realisation of a sustainable future.
Oman is considering a green transit corridor initiative for heavy vehicles, said Al Shamakhi, noting that the corridor is envisaged to link Sohar Port to the oil concession areas.
-ONA
