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The depletion of fossil fuels, economic concerns over the sharp fluctuations in oil prices, and environmental concerns including global warming have renewed interest in alternative green energy solutions in the form of renewable energy technologies. Solar energy is one of the most promising and environmentally friendly forms of renewable energy for power generation. However, energy transition towards renewables has been slow in developing countries, particularly in the oil-rich Arab Gulf countries. To assess the perspective of Omani consumers in terms of solar energy use, barriers, and readiness to use solar energy for sustainable development, this study aims to determine the proportion of the Omani population who use solar energy, the barriers to solar energy consumption in Oman, people's perceptions towards solar energy barriers, policies aimed at promoting solar energy programs, and the likelihood and willingness to use solar energy in the future. This analysis is based on quantitative data collected through a questionnaire survey distributed in Oman between 20 June 2023 to 12 August 2023. We used 113 samples for analysis using Principal Component Analysis and Krushkal–Wallis H-tests. Our results revealed that 95% of the residents and commercial units surveyed are willing to use solar PV in the future. The main barriers identified include high installation costs, high maintenance costs, and lack of awareness. The potential for growth in solar energy consumption and use depends on the capacity of the government to provide substantial incentives, financial support, improved quality, implement public-private partnership programs, as well as introduce a clear solar energy policy. While evaluating consumers' awareness and intentions to use solar energy in the future, this study offers practical implications for policymakers to forecast the potential growth, identify effective policy instruments for promoting renewable energy, and determine the readiness of the country for transition to cleaner energy consumption. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Many manufacturing firms face considerable difficulties in building export capacity and selling their products in international markets. These firms often struggle with unpredictable cost changes, logistical problems along the supply chain, and rising labor expenses that could threaten the competitive edge of manufacturing operations. As there is also a clear absence of practical export models tailored to the unique needs of industrial firms, our study aims to offer a more holistic approach to assessing the impact of cost components on enhancing export-oriented production capacity (EOPC), a perspective not comprehensively provided by the comparative advantage theory, the Heckscher–Ohlin model, or the resource-based theory. While offering a comprehensive analysis of cost components in production, we argue that adjusting the resources, managing the costs, and enhancing production efficiency can significantly improve the EOPC of the manufacturing firms. Using primary data collected from 200 manufacturing firms in Oman during the period 2012–2016, multiple regression analysis followed by descriptive statistical analysis together with a correlation matrix indicates strong positive relationships between the EOPC and factors such as the raw material cost (RMC), labor wages (LW), labor force (LF), and R&D costs (RND). Multicollinearity assessment shows VIF values below the threshold, suggesting reliable estimates. Interaction terms and market conditions were integrated into the model, enhancing its predictive accuracy. Preliminary multiple regression analysis confirms the significant impact of the RMC, LW, LF, and R&D on the EOPC, while highlighting the importance of market conditions in moderating these effects. The model's adjusted R2 value indicates a strong fit, showing that the independent variables account for a substantial proportion of the variance in the EOPC. Each variable's importance is reflected in its coefficient, while p-values assess the statistical significance, highlighting which factors are crucial for enhancing export capabilities. Specifically, low p-values for cost components, labor force size, and wages confirm their significant influence, and varying market conditions further modulate these effects, demonstrating the accurate interplay between internal and external factors. Adjustments in cost components under varying market scenarios were analyzed, indicating optimal strategies for increasing the EOPC. Of the five scenarios proposed to distribute the cost either among some variables while keeping others constant or among all the factors, the best-case scenario adjusted all variables together, resulting in a 20% increment in exports. We conclude with some practical and policy implications for governments to support industries in accessing cheap resources through tax reductions on imported raw materials and efficient supply chains, while promoting innovation, technology adoption, and R&D investment at the firm level. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Our study examines the condition of sustainable development in Omani fisheries industry, with specific focus on the extent to which the fishing companies practice sustainable fishing that meets the objective of food security. We also detect, characterize, and analyze the compliance of the fishing companies with the principles of social, economic, and environmental sustainability. Using 55 completed questionnaires of 70 surveyed operating fishing companies, a multivariate general linear model was used to determine the impact of economic and environmental factors on achieving sustainability, and domestic demand of fisheries sector in Oman. Our results revealed that more than 63% of companies believed that sustainability is extremely important in the fisheries industry, and around 42% of the companies 'strongly agree' that Oman meets its domestic demand from its own harvest. The model displayed significant effects of the amount of production for local consumption, climate change adaptation, and water waste management on improving sustainability of the fisheries sector. Analysis also confirmed significant effects on the amount of production for local consumption, amount of production for export, and using technology to locate stock on enabling the country to meet its domestic demand through its own harvest. We conclude by arguing that our findings have important implications for managing production in terms of food security and safeguarding domestic consumption. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study is probably the first of its kind to explore the potential and challenges of developing a clean energy transition through sustainable exploration and the use of lithium in Oman's mining industry. This study explains how growing energy and environmental concerns significantly intensify interest in electric vehicles and hybrid electric vehicles, consequently increasing the demand for lithium exploration and production. Whereas Umm as Samim and Mahout are usually identified as major resources for a potential lithium commodity, this study uses statistical data from Oman's National Center of Statistics and Information (NCSI) to determine the quantity and value of salt, lithium production, and sales to assess their commercial viability. The findings reveal that Oman has huge potential for lithium exploitation and production, considering the enormous quantities of spodumene and seawater salt with high-grade lithium available, developing efficient regulations and rules to protect investors' rights, and reducing the environmental risks associated with the production and recycling of lithium-ion batteries. The realization of this potential cannot be attained until serious challenges in the country's regulations, environmental hazards, and investment strategy are overcome. This study concludes by offering some practical and policy implications. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]