The Energy and Minerals Exhibition 2026 opened Saturday in Salalah, Oman, showcasing the evolving landscape of the country’s energy and mineral sectors. Organised by the Ministry of Energy and Minerals in collaboration with industry stakeholders, the event runs until August 6 during the Khareef Dhofar season. It aims to present complex aspects of Oman's energy economy—ranging from oil and gas production to renewable energy and mineral resources—in an accessible format for citizens, residents, and visitors.

The exhibition, inaugurated by HH Sayyid Marwan bin Turki al Said, Governor of Dhofar, features nine interactive sections that trace the sector’s value chains from exploration and production to downstream applications. These displays highlight how hydrocarbons and minerals are integrated into various industrial and public services, including construction, healthcare, transport, and manufacturing.

Oman’s oil and gas production in 2025 averaged just over one million barrels per day, with exports reaching approximately 843,700 barrels daily. The country holds an estimated 4.7 billion barrels in crude oil and condensate reserves. Natural gas production averaged 151.2 million cubic meters per day, accompanied by 11.3 million metric tonnes of liquefied natural gas exports. The sector demonstrated a high Omanisation rate of 91.6 percent, reflecting local workforce participation.

The exhibition underscores Dhofar’s strategic role in Oman's energy transition, highlighting ongoing projects such as the 400-kilovolt transmission line linking Al Duqm and Dhofar, expected to be completed by October 2026. This infrastructure aims to integrate northern and southern power systems, enhance grid security, and support the increased incorporation of renewable sources. The region hosts operational and planned wind farms, including the 50 MW Dhofar Wind Farm at Harweel and future sites at Sadah, Shaleem, and Al Duqm. A renewable power and battery storage project for the Hallaniyat Islands will be tendered later this year. Salalah is also noted as a hub for green hydrogen projects, part of a national push into low-carbon energy.

In 2025, Oman generated 51 terawatt hours of electricity, with renewables accounting for around 9 percent. The commissioning of the Manah 1 and Manah 2 solar plants added 1,000 MW of solar capacity. Government targets call for renewables to constitute 10 percent of electricity production in 2026, rising to 30 percent by 2030, and up to 60-70 percent by 2040 with a long-term goal of near-total renewable generation by 2050. Achieving these objectives requires upgrades across transmission networks, digital infrastructure, energy storage, and demand management.

Nine green-hydrogen projects have been awarded so far, with seven actively progressing. Combined planned electrolyser capacity stands at around 18 GW supported by 26.6 GW of renewable generation by 2030. These investments could enable annual green hydrogen production of approximately one million tonnes. A related green-ammonia facility under construction in Al Duqm is poised to begin output of 100,000 tonnes annually by 2027. The government’s framework around hydrogen includes unified permitting, investor support, underground storage studies, and plans for international trading corridors, alongside carbon capture and storage initiatives intended to develop an integrated low-carbon economy.

The minerals section at the exhibition presents Oman’s extensive resources, particularly emphasizing gypsum—the largest commercially exploitable reserves globally—along with limestone, marble, chromite, copper, silica, and other materials. In 2025, the country produced roughly 65 million tonnes of minerals, with sales valued at about RO 159 million and investment totaling RO 105 million. The ministry aims to increase domestic processing and manufacture to shift from exporting raw materials toward higher-value supply chains.

Oman's updated national climate strategy uses a 2024 emissions baseline of approximately 94 million tonnes of CO2 equivalent, with 70 percent attributed to oil and gas, electricity, and industry sectors. The plan targets an unconditional emissions reduction of 7 percent and a conditional 26 percent cut by 2035, depending on technology and financing, with net-zero emissions set for 2050.

Officials described the exhibition as an educational platform linking the energy and mineral sectors to everyday life and the region’s development potential. The event also offers family-friendly activities and runs alongside a media forum featuring leaders from Petroleum Development Oman, OQ Group, Nama Holding, and Minerals Development Oman, discussing exploration, investment, renewable energy expansion, electricity and water security, and industrial diversification strategies.