Electricity in Oman in 2023

The current state of electricity consumption in Oman, based on our forecast model using actual data from the first six months of 2023 and predicted data for the remaining three months, shows a heavy reliance on fossil fuels. More than 99% of electricity generated in Oman comes from fossil energy, with gas alone accounting for a staggering 96% of the total. Conversely, low-carbon or clean energy sources make up close to none of Oman's electricity generation, highlighting a significant area for improvement. This reliance on fossil fuels contributes to negative environmental impacts such as climate change and air pollution.

Suggestions

To increase low-carbon electricity generation, Oman can learn from countries with successful transitions to clean energy. For example, France, Slovakia, and Ukraine generate more than half of their electricity from nuclear power, demonstrating the potential of this reliable and efficient clean energy source. Additionally, Denmark and Uruguay have leveraged their wind resources, generating around 53% and 35% of their electricity from wind, respectively. Yemen and Jordan have incorporated solar power into their energy matrix, reaching 20% and 15%. Oman can adopt similar strategies by investing in nuclear reactors and tapping into its abundant sunlight for solar energy projects.

History

Historically, Oman's transition towards low-carbon electricity has been minimal but shows signs of potential growth. From 2013 to 2019, there was no significant generation of solar electricity, indicating an initial lack of investment in this clean energy source. In 2020, Oman began generating solar electricity, reaching 0.2 TWh. This dropped to 0.1 TWh in 2021 and further declined to zero in 2022 and 2023. Despite this back-and-forth trend, the initial growth in 2020 suggests that there is a foundation upon which Oman can build a more robust solar energy infrastructure, coupled with nuclear investments for maximal low-carbon electricity generation in the future.

Electricity Imports and Exports

Balance of Trade

Data Sources