A similar institution dedicated to promoting energy conservation and energy efficiency as a strategic national goal is on the plan of the Sultanate. The initial responsibility for conceptualizing the tasks of this central agency has been given to Nama Group (power holding company), a state-owned holding company for government-owned power generation, transmission and distribution assets.

Eng Salim bin Nasser al Aufi, Deputy Minister of Energy and Minerals, announced the news at the Energy Efficiency Conference held by the Sultanate’s Comprehensive Energy Organization.

Al Aufi said: "By mid-2021, we should have a framework to establish the Oman Energy Efficiency Center." "Nama Group is currently integrating this framework. By the middle of the year, we will know what the mission of the center is. How it will work, etc. The framework is used in the pilot phase of the plan for a period of one to one and a half years. Then, we will enter the second phase and decide on the best location for the energy efficiency center."

As part of the national policy, the plan to establish a central agency to improve energy efficiency is consistent with the efforts of the Oman government to promote energy conservation, renewable energy development and carbon reduction goals. These goals have been included in the Mid-term Fiscal Sustainability Plan, covering the time frame from 2020 to 2025 and the longer-term Oman 2040 vision. However, the proposed center will not only be a consulting service think tank, but will also oversee a wide range of issues including energy efficiency and energy conservation.

"As part of the mission, the center will establish benchmarks and goals for improving energy efficiency, improving the qualifications and certification of energy efficiency officials and auditors. It will also develop standards and regulations based on energy consumption to regulate the import of household appliances and household appliances, so that Consumers understand what they buy from the perspective of energy efficiency, etc. In fact, the work of the center is not limited to recommending policies and procedures, but also setting challenging benchmarks and targets." The Deputy Secretary-General explained. Editor/Xu Shengpeng