Energy Qatar to build world’s largest ‘blue’ ammonia plant QatarEnergy will build the world’s largest “blue” ammonia plant, which is expected to come online in the first quarter of 2026 and to produce 1.2 million tonnes per year, chief executive and state minister for energy Saad Al-Kaabi said on Wednesday. The cost of the Ammonia-7 project is approximately 3.86 billion rials ($1.06 billion), according […] September 1, 2022
Energy $3.5bn Saudi-Egyptian project powers up hydrogen transition Saudi Arabia has backed up its ambition to become the world’s largest exporter of hydrogen by 2030 with plans to develop a $3.5 billion project in Egypt. Riyadh-based Alfanar has signed a memorandum of understanding with the General Authority of the Suez Canal Economic Zone, the Sovereign Fund of Egypt, the Egyptian Electricity Transmission Company […] August 31, 2022
Energy Omani energy services provider eyes potential IPO Abraj Energy Services, an Omani state-owned oil and gas field services provider, is looking at launching an initial public offering (IPO), as the Sultanate looks to develop the revamped Muscat Stock Exchange (MSX). The company, which is a subsidiary of state investment vehicle OQ, said in a press statement it is “currently reviewing the possibility […] August 31, 2022
Opinion Energy The Gulf’s future is with renewables, not fossil fuel The replacement of Russian oil and gas with Gulf fossil energy won't meet commitments to climate protection August 31, 2022
Energy South Korea in $2.2bn deal with Russia for Egypt nuclear plant South Korea signed a $2.2 billion deal with Russia’s state-owned Rosatom to provide buildings and components for a new Egyptian nuclear plant, Bloomberg reported. Korea Hydro and Nuclear Power Co. won a contract to supply buildings, equipment and materials for Egypt’s El Dabaa project, South Korea’s energy ministry said in a statement. The state-owned Korean […] August 31, 2022
Opinion Energy How big data will save the planet A clear and trusted data strategy is a must as we progress through a complex and critical energy transition process from carbon to clean August 25, 2022
Energy Kuwait increases oil output to ensure market stability Kuwait has increased its crude oil production to match its 2.811 million barrels per day quota under the OPEC+ agreement, state news agency KUNA reported citing Dr. Mohammad Al Faris, Kuwait Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Oil. The increased production follows announcements made by Kuwait Petroleum Corporation that it is bringing on line investments […] August 25, 2022
Energy Oman puts partial privatisation of power distribution firm on hold The proposed partial privatisation of Oman’s power distribution provider, Muscat Electricity Distribution Company (MEDC), is currently on hold pending a review of options for the broader restructuring of the country’s distribution companies, according to a local media report. The decision to hold the intended privatisation came from the Authority for Public Services Regulation, Hamdan Al […] August 24, 2022
Energy Qatar awards contract for two utility-scale solar power plants Qatar Energy’s wholly owned subsidiary, QatarEnergy Renewable Solutions, has awarded an engineering, procurement and construction (EPC) contract for its industrial cities (IC) solar power project to South Korea’s Samsung C&T, the company said in a statement. The QR 2.3 billion ($632 million) solar project consists of two large-scale photovoltaic (PV) solar power plants with a […] August 24, 2022
Energy Aldar says retrofit project to save $11m per year in energy costs Abu Dhabi-listed Aldar Properties’ retrofit project will save AED 40 million ($10.89 million) per year in energy consumption costs, with the developer reporting it reduced energy consumption by 20 percent in 2021. In its 2021 Sustainability Report, the company said that the group’s retrofit project is the largest of its kind in the UAE and […] August 24, 2022
Analysis Energy Sharjah wins waste-to-energy race as rest of region cleans up its act Dubai had the Gulf’s first “seven-star” hotel and Abu Dhabi hosted the inaugural “day-night” Formula One Grand Prix. The emirate of Sharjah can claim a UAE first too – one that is less glitzy but potentially more transformative – the first waste-to-energy power plant. The Sharjah waste-to-energy facility, officially inaugurated in May, adds another dimension […] August 23, 2022
Energy TotalEnergies and ENI make major gas discovery off Cyprus shore Energy companies TotalEnergies and ENI announced a significant gas discovery at the Cronos-1 well, in Block 6, offshore Cyprus. Cronos-1 encountered several good quality carbonate reservoir intervals and confirmed overall net gas pay of more than 260 metres, said TotalEnergies in a statement. TotalEnergies and ENI each have a 50 percent stake in Block 6. […] August 23, 2022
Energy Abu Dhabi unveils hydrogen plan to bolster UAE’s eco ambitions Abu Dhabi unveiled its hydrogen policy and regulatory framework on Monday – part of the UAE’s push to become a global force in the low-carbon economy. The Department of Energy (DoE) said its framework aimed to accelerate the UAE’s national hydrogen strategy, adding that it is working with public and private sector stakeholders including Abu […] August 22, 2022
Energy Oman plans to allocate huge land in Dhofar for ‘green’ investors Oman’s Ministry of Housing and Urban Planning is seeking approvals for an estimated 450 million square metres of land in Dhofar governorate for renewables and green hydrogen projects. The process is being facilitated in coordination with several concerned ministries and government agencies, Sultan Al Ghafri, director general of the Ministry of Housing and Urban Planning […] August 22, 2022
Energy Saudi Arabia sets rules for rollout of EV charging stations Saudi Arabia’s Ministry of Energy launched the regulations for the rollout of electric vehicle (EV) charging stations, according to a local media report. A team at the Ministry of Energy has completed work related to the legislative, organisational and technical aspects to regulating the EV charging market, Saudi Gazette newspaper reported, citing the ministry. The […] August 22, 2022
Exclusive Energy UAE biofuel firm in talks with global investors A Dubai-based company which converts waste cooking oil into biofuel is in investment talks with major energy firms, as demand grows among climate-conscious global companies. The sector is expected to be worth over $200 billion by 2030. “I moved to Dubai in 2009. I’d been working for three years by then on sustainability, so it’s […] August 22, 2022
Energy Aramco will complete Valvoline unit buyout by early 2023 Saudi Arabian Oil Company (Aramco) plans to complete the acquisition of Valvoline Global Products (VGP) by early 2023, Arab News reported, citing its downstream senior vice president Mohammed Y. Al-Qahtani. In August, the company signed a SAR 9.9 billion ($2.65 billion) equity purchase agreement to acquire the US-based company. Al-Qahtani said Aramco would expand its […] August 21, 2022
Opinion Iran nuclear deal Riyadh offers wary support for revived Iranian nuclear deal Saudi views Iran’s nuclear programme with concern, but remains worried any revival of the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action won't contain Iran's missile programme or its support for militias August 18, 2022
Energy TAQA approached as part of Indian energy firm’s fund raising UAE’s Abu Dhabi National Energy Company (TAQA) is among a list of global utilities and energy companies approached by India’s NTPC Ltd, as the power utility firm starts fundraising for its clean energy platform, financial daily Economic Times reported. The company plans to first carve out its renewable energy assets into a special purpose vehicle […] August 17, 2022
Analysis Energy Oil firms ride high but sector braces for more ‘realistic’ prices The Middle East’s oil and gas sector will remain buoyant into 2023, even as global oil prices become more “realistic” after surpassing a 15-year high of $123 per barrel in March, according to analysts. Oil prices hovered just below $90 per barrel on Tuesday, having gradually come down from $100/barrel at the end of July […] August 16, 2022
Energy Tunisia’s economy grew 2.8% in Q2 2022 Tunisia’s economy recorded a growth rate of 2.8 percent in Q2 of this year compared to the same period in 2021, the country’s statistics agency said on Monday. The National Institute of Statistics’ data also showed that Tunisia’s trade deficit widened to 13.7 billion dinars ($4.36 billion) in the first seven months of 2022 from 8.7 […] August 16, 2022
Opinion Energy The answer to OPEC’s investment dilemma is in its own hands OPEC members worried about 'years of underinvestment' have a choice: open up to more international partners or increase their oil output August 15, 2022
