In 2024, Oman's electricity consumption is heavily reliant on fossil fuels, with close to all electricity, around 96%, being generated from fossil sources, predominantly natural gas, which constitutes approximately 93% of the total. This demonstrates a heavy dependency on non-sustainable energy sources. In contrast, low-carbon energy, particularly solar, contributes a small portion, comprising just over 4% of the electricity mix with almost the entire low-carbon generation coming from solar at nearly 4%. This highlights the urgent need for a significantly increased focus on sustainable energy sources to diversify and secure the country's long-term energy future, as relying so heavily on fossil fuels can exacerbate problems like climate change and air pollution due to their negative environmental impact.

Data sources used on this page include EIA, Ember and IEA. More about data sources →

Is Electricity Growing in Oman?

Evaluating the trajectory of electricity usage in Oman reveals a concerning trend. Overall electricity consumption per person has decreased from a record high in 2022 of 9327 kWh to 8637 kWh in 2024, reflecting a nearly 700 kWh per person decline. This decline raises worries about potential deterrents to economic growth and development due to reduced electricity availability. However, on a brighter note, low-carbon electricity per person has seen a slight increase from 360 kWh in 2023 to 363 kWh in 2024, maintaining an incremental growth pattern. The rise, albeit small, is an encouraging sign for low-carbon sources, given their crucial role in sustainable development and addressing environmental challenges.

Suggestions

To significantly increase low-carbon electricity generation, Oman could aspire to learn from global leaders in clean energy production. Lebanon demonstrates the viability of solar energy, where solar power accounts for 31% of the electricity mix. This offers a feasible model due to the similar solar potential in the region. Additionally, nuclear energy represents an immense opportunity, as demonstrated by nuclear-heavy countries like France, where nuclear comprises nearly 70% of electricity, providing a resilient and low-emission backbone to the energy portfolio. Adopting a mix of nuclear and solar energy could help Oman reduce its dependency on fossil fuels and significantly cut greenhouse gas emissions, promoting an environmentally and economically sustainable future.

History

Tracing the history of low-carbon energy in Oman reveals a gradual but steady development, particularly in solar energy. From 2013 to 2018, solar energy did not contribute to the electricity generation, but progress began around 2020 with incremental increases, notably 0.1 TWh and 0.6 TWh in 2020 and 2021, respectively. Wind energy, albeit minimal, started contributing in 2021. However, after initial progress, the seemingly stagnant output from wind and solar in 2024 raises concerns as these forms of energy should be accelerating to meet environmental and energy security goals. It reflects the need for robust strategies to ensure sustained growth in low-carbon energy capacity to achieve a cleaner energy mix.

Electricity Imports and Exports

Balance of Trade