Technology Advances Fast, Is Infrastructure Keeping Up?

With major green investments underway, are we giving enough attention to the everyday systems, like waste and planning, that sustainability truly depends on?

Anahita Jafari
March 23, 2025

Oman – The first Final Investment Decision (FID) is anticipated during the 2026-27 timeframe by one of the consortiums awarded mandates to develop green hydrogen (GH2) projects in the Sultanate of Oman.

I won’t dive into whether hydrogen is the next big energy breakthrough or not.

I am just wondering, are we investing in growth to create a better, wealthier, and healthier life, but missing key opportunities to prepare for its impact?

I’ll leave the hydrogen debate to the experts. What struck me most since returning to Muscat is something more visible and immediate: the waste issue on construction sites and the growing presence of plastic packaging littering the streets and, sadly, our beautiful beaches.

The point is that while technology advances and industries expand, infrastructure doesn’t always keep pace.

“Sustainability” is a word we hear everywhere these days, but how do we ensure it’s more than just a narrative, and truly delivers on its promise?

Yes, renewable energies can be sustainable, but only if the infrastructure is ready. Otherwise, we risk adding to our challenges and investing heavily later to fix what could have been prevented.

In the GCC, the rapid growth of the construction industry has led to an overwhelming increase in C&D waste. The F&B industry is also expanding fast, and plastic packaging waste is now impossible to ignore. It’s on the streets, the beaches, and almost everywhere you walk.

This is just my observation, both professional and personal. Without proper infrastructure, expansion is like constructing a building without a foundation. It may look impressive, until a light breeze comes along, and you're left with costly damage and difficult recovery.

The GCC’s Waste Challenge Is Larger than it Appears

The numbers speak for themselves. The GCC generates between 105 to 130 million tones of waste every year, with over half from construction and demolition.

Municipal solid waste (MSW) adds another significant share, and the trend is only increasing as industries grow. The waste management market is valued at $66.3 billion, projected to reach $100 billion by 2032, but where is all this waste going? Are we truly managing it or simply relocating the problem?

In Oman, the situation is similar. An estimated 5,000 tons of solid waste are generated daily. 69% of it is organic, and only around 16% is considered recyclable. Plastic waste alone reaches approximately 2.3 million tons annually—yet just 4% of post-consumer plastic is recycled. The rest ends up in landfills—or worse, in public spaces and the ocean.

Oman has waste management laws in place construction violations and littering carry minimum fines of 1,000 OMR. So the issue isn’t lawmaking. Could it be about enforcement, infrastructure, and collective responsibility.

The original publication includes a photograph by Anahita Jafari, Salalah, Oman; the image is not reproduced here.

The solution lies in aligning design, materials, and behavior.

To manage waste and reduce environmental impact, we need to utilize climate-appropriate, low-impact materials, rethink insulation and thermal performance, and embed sustainability into policy and daily practices.

This means integrating technical knowledge with market insights and local realities. Whether for public projects or private developments, the key is practical strategies that make environmental responsibility both accessible and effective.

If you're in construction, policy, or sustainability let’s connect.