Mohammed Ajmal Basha: A Tech-savvy Leader Playing a Catalytic Role in Sustainable Energy Transition

Over the past few years, the Arabian Peninsula has been on a transformational journey, diversifying its oil-based economy into everything from technology to sports and tourism. Oman is at the forefront of this ambitious vision of building a sustainable future. The country has established its aims to derive 30 percent of its electricity from renewable sources by 2030, increase to 35-39 percent by 2040, and ultimately achieve net-zero emissions by 2050 through a mix of solar and wind power, as well as green hydrogen production. Oman walks the talks, owing thanks to a handful of leaders like Mohammed Ajmal Basha, CEO, Voltamp Energy SAOG, who ensure that Oman’s renewable energy sector remains at the cutting edge of technology advantage.

From a modest beginning in 1987, Voltamp Energy has grown into a public-listed engineering and technology behemoth, manifesting a stellar example of Oman’s entrepreneurial spirit and manufacturing prowess. The company today makes its presence in 25 countries known in product segments including, but not limited to, Power and Distribution Transformers, Medium and Low Voltage Switchgear, and custom-made engineering solutions, improving lead time and reducing site complexities in power generation, distribution, and storage applications in the process.

The Long Strides

The powerhouse of the company’s tech-savvy approach, Ajmal consciously prioritizes integrating the latest technologies into Voltamp’s products. The outcome? Voltamp Energy has consistently stayed ahead of trends, from the evolution of distribution transformers to high voltage technology, and now to Ultra High Voltage Products. It’s impressive how the company has remained at the forefront, continually elevating its capabilities and offering the market localized, high-tech products and solutions.

“In 2021, we produced our first 220 kV transformer, a milestone that took nearly 10 years to reach. However, by 2022, we advanced to 400 kV in just one year. Currently, we are working on developing our shunt reactor. In addition to these major products, we’ve also established Inverter Duty Transformers and Skid solutions for the renewable energy sector, along with multi-tap and specialized transformers for the oil and gas industry. We are also in the process of developing rectifier transformers to support Oman’s green hydrogen ambitions”, Ajmal elucidates. Indeed, these innovations are not only making the region self-sufficient but are also pivotal in driving the Gulf’s vision forward, ensuring progress without delay in achieving renewable energy goals.

Furthermore, Voltamp Energy’s products are renowned not only for their quality but also for their unparalleled reliability. The company invests significant time and effort to ensure this across its extensive product range. The 400 kV, 500 MVA Voltamp power transformers and the solar inverter duty transformers, which were once imported from the Far East and European regions, stand as a testament to this distinctive approach. “Although we’ve encountered numerous challenges along the way, overcoming them has brought us great satisfaction. This mindset is deeply embedded in our team and has been a key driver of our journey”, affirms Ajmal.

Visionary Leadership: A Critical Aspect of Success

Success goes beyond hard work and mindset, it requires carefully crafted leadership strategies. According to Ajmal, achieving success in large-scale projects starts with a comprehensive understanding of the business model from key perspectives, including the market, customers, shareholders, and available skill sets. These insights enable the development of well-informed strategies, prompt decision-making, and the efficient allocation of roles and responsibilities within the team.

deliverables using measurable metrics at the right intervals, significantly increasing the chances of project success. “A deep understanding of team dynamics and a comprehensive market analysis are equally essential. Acknowledging the diversity across markets, regions, and individuals is crucial, as one-size-fits-all strategies may not be effective. Effective leadership demands a customized approach that addresses the specific needs and circumstances of each situation, fostering respect and engagement from all stakeholders”, adds Ajmal.

In addition to accurate resource allocation, cost optimization plays an important role in project success. However, while Ajmal believes that there is no one-sizefits- all approach to cost reduction, he points toward market dynamics and building trust with both customers and suppliers as keys to reducing costs and increasing sales prices. As a tech-savvy leader, Ajmal also echoes the importance of peer analysis, Kaizen (continuous improvement), and the use of IoT and AI-enabled data analysis to simplify decision-making processes.

En Route to the Future

Given the ambitious sustainable energy target established in the GCC region, it’s no secret that the market is strong and the demand is huge. According to a CO2 emissions study in the GCC region, the GCC countries, which account for about 25 percent of the world’s oil production, contributed around 1.5 billion tons of CO2 annually. This amounts to approximately 4 percent of global emissions. It is a staggering figure considering the region’s population proportion. It’s no wonder the GCC nations announced a historic $100 billion investment in renewable energy by 2030. This initiative aims to mitigate carbon emissions by up to 20 percent while making the crucial transition toward sustainable energy sources.

As the growth trajectory of the industry is evident, Voltamp Energy’s short- and mid-term strategy is focused on expanding and diversifying its product offerings in the Gulf region, which is a sure bet to significantly increase business volumes. However, while South Asia is not a primary focus for the company currently, Voltamp Energy has its eyes set on the U.S. and European markets that show strong indicators of growing demand due to the energy transition.

“Looking ahead, from a product perspective, the use of ester oil, green insulation materials, vacuum technology, and similar innovations will significantly benefit the technological ecosystem. Meanwhile, market mapping, product development, and understanding customer needs will remain essential for driving revenue growth. We have conducted in-depth market mapping and trend analysis to align ourselves with these emerging opportunities. Since 2019, we have introduced multiple new products and are rapidly developing renewable solutions while advancing our technology to meet the demands of an increasingly sophisticated market”, concludes Ajmal.

Mohammed Ajmal Basha, CEO, Voltamp Energy SAOG

A leader who leads by example, Ajmal has been taking on challenges and transforming ideas into results over the past three decades. He fosters innovation and has spearheaded sustainable transformations worldwide with a vision to constantly remain at the forefront of technological advancements. He has been associated with Voltamp Energy since 2019 in various capacities, from General Manager to Chief Operating Officer, and now CEO. Prior to Voltamp Energy, he had a stellar professional career in organizations such as ABB, Crompton Greaves, Saudi Federal Transformers LLC, and MEMF Electrical Industries Co.