OAPEC Launches ArabH2 Hydrogen Energy Development Steering Initiative
The Secretary-General of the Organization of Arab Petroleum Exporting Countries (OAPEC), Jamal Al Loughani, announced the launch of the ArabH2 Hydrogen Energy Development Steering Initiative.
This is a guidance initiative that aims to highlight the latest developments in the field of hydrogen, the challenges of supply chains, and how to integrate hydrogen with renewable energy sources. It also aims to facilitate the exchange of experiences and expertise among Arab countries and to benefit from international experiences in this field.
Al Loughani stated that the initiative came within the recommendations of the third edition of OAPEC’s annual seminar on ‘Global and Arab Hydrogen Developments: Trends, Challenges, and Opportunities,’ which concluded its activities at the Engineering for the Petroleum and Process Industries Company (Enppi) in Cairo, Egypt, on April 17, 2025. The seminar saw the participation of approximately 11 speakers and the attendance of around 140 experts and specialists representing ministries of petroleum, energy, and minerals from seven Arab countries, in addition to about 40 specialized companies in the oil, gas, and hydrogen sectors, as well as research and regional centers in the field of energy.
The seminar witnessed active participation from researchers and experts who presented specialized scientific papers and insightful interventions that enriched the discussions and contributed to deepening the common understanding.
The initiative is based on five main pillars, which are: fostering regional and international cooperation and knowledge exchange; promoting scientific research and innovation; supporting integration with renewable energy; overcoming technical and investment challenges; and supporting national capabilities and capacity building.
To ensure the immediate commencement of the initiative’s implementation and its technical pillars, Al Loughani clarified that a general coordinator for the initiative has been appointed. This coordinator will be responsible for the coordination and follow-up of the implementation of the five pillars and for monitoring the developments of the hydrogen industry in the Arab region. The progress made in the initiative’s pillars will be reviewed periodically.
In conclusion of his statement, Al Loughani stated that the commitment to the recommendations issued by the Third Hydrogen Seminar and the OAPEC Hydrogen Initiative would enhance Arab and international cooperation and support the steps towards a more sustainable energy future. It would also contribute to placing our region on a path towards achieving the Sustainable Development Goals.
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OAPEC Launches ArabH2 Hydrogen Energy Development Steering Initiative, source
