Sustainability UAE green steel project brushes off hydrogen concerns The UAE has completed a pilot programme looking into the use of green hydrogen to decarbonise the steel industry. UAE steel company Emsteel and renewable energy major Masdar joined forces to produce “green” steel despite increasing concerns over cost, regulations, demand and scalability of the clean energy source. Conventional steel production accounts for around 8 […] October 29, 2024
Opinion Trade Europe needs to revisit Gulf relations or lose out to Asia The recent EU-GCC summit could not have come at a more critical moment October 28, 2024
Analysis Sustainability EU carbon tariff opens door to green GCC manufacturers Europe’s decision to place a tariff on a selected group of carbon-intensive imports may offer a competitive advantage to Gulf manufacturers who are investing in carbon-reducing technologies, industry observers believe. By decarbonising hard-to-abate sectors, GCC countries can become the European Union’s privileged trade partners, because producers with lower carbon emissions will get better access to […] October 28, 2024
Renewable Energy Hydrogen taxis to hit the road in Saudi Arabian trial Saudi Arabia has announced a trial operation of its first hydrogen powered taxi. The Transport General Authority (TGA) said the pilot phase will use Toyota Mirai vehicles, as it seeks to reduce carbon emissions and reduce reliance on internal combustion engine vehicles. The emission-free Toyota Mirai car has a range of 350 kilometres and the […] October 24, 2024
Opinion Energy The Middle East has the chance to lead on hydrogen The pace and scale of deployment must accelerate to meet mid-century climate goals October 23, 2024
Analysis Energy Energy security at centre of EU-GCC collaboration The European Union and the GCC held their first summit this week, where they committed to “greater cooperation on energy security, including energy efficiency and renewable energies and hydrogen”, the parties said in a joint statement. The EU wants to strengthen its energy security by cementing ties with the GCC, following European states’ decision to […] October 18, 2024
Renewable Energy PIF’s new venture to invest $10bn in green hydrogen Saudi Arabia’s Public Investment Fund (PIF) has established a new entity to invest an estimated $10 billion into the production of green hydrogen. The new subsidiary, Energy Solutions Company, will focus on funding the development of low-carbon fuel, Bloomberg reported, quoting unnamed sources. The investment is estimated to grow significantly in the coming years, driven […] October 8, 2024
Renewable Energy Progress made on Gulf renewables but ‘more to do’ Executives from global companies used a United Nations climate change event on Monday to urge world leaders – including those in the Gulf – to stick to commitments agreed at the Cop28 summit in Dubai to treble renewable energy capacity by the end of the decade. The International Energy Agency (IEA) said on Tuesday that […] September 24, 2024
Renewable Energy Egypt to receive half of Acwa Power’s $30bn Africa investment Saudi energy company Acwa Power is hoping for financial close on the first phase of a scheme to invest $15 billion in Egypt over the next six years, as part of a plan to quadruple its total investment in Africa. A flagship green hydrogen scheme in Egypt, as yet unnamed, could become the second-largest of […] September 17, 2024
Renewable Energy Adnoc to buy 35% stake in ExxonMobil hydrogen plant State-owned Abu Dhabi National Oil Company (Adnoc) will acquire a 35 percent stake in US energy company ExxonMobil’s planned large-scale hydrogen and ammonia production facility in Texas. The production facility – expected to be the world’s largest of its kind upon startup – intends to produce up to one billion cubic feet per day of low-carbon […] September 5, 2024
Renewable Energy Iraq to issue first licence for blue ammonia plant Iraq will soon issue a license to build its first blue ammonia plant, in an attempt to cut the country’s carbon footprint. The National Investment Commission (NIC), which is entrusted with drawing foreign investments in the country, is working on completing the requirements to grant an investment license for the plant in the Basra region, […] August 29, 2024
Renewable Energy Egypt reveals ambitious hydrogen strategy Egypt’s newly launched hydrogen energy strategy will require the investment of around $60 billion over the coming decades to achieve its ambitious targets. However, research by Bloomberg this week highlighted the fact that the majority of existing hydrogen plants around the world have failed to attract sufficient buyers for their output. On Thursday Egypt launched […] August 16, 2024
Renewable Energy Tunisia signs green hydrogen deals to step up production Tunisia has signed six agreements with international companies to develop green hydrogen production as it seeks to expand its clean fuel production capacity. The North African country aims to produce 8.3 million tonnes of green hydrogen and its derivatives by 2050 under its green hydrogen strategy, which was released in October 2023. Much of the […] July 31, 2024
Opinion Renewable Energy Oman is on a steady path to a hydrogen-powered future The sultanate is off to a roaring start – now it needs to stay on course July 17, 2024
Energy Saudi Aramco bolsters blue hydrogen portfolio Saudi Aramco has acquired a 50 percent stake in Jubail-based Blue Hydrogen Industrial Gases Company (BHIG), a wholly-owned subsidiary of Air Products Qudra. No financial details were disclosed. The transaction, subject to standard closing conditions, includes options for the oil giant to offtake hydrogen and nitrogen. NewsletterGet the Best of AGBI delivered straight to your […] July 17, 2024
Analysis Renewable Energy Austerity threatens Egypt’s green energy progress Sprawling over 37 sq km of desert north of Egyptian city of Aswan, the Benban Solar Park is one of the largest photovoltaic power plants in the world. Made up of 41 individual solar plants, the park’s investors boast it can be seen from space. Launched in 2018 and now at 1.8 gigawatt capacity, in […] July 9, 2024
Energy Saudi Arabia to build new blue ammonia plant Saudi Arabia’s energy ministry has approved feedstock for a new blue ammonia plant. Sabic Agri-Nutrients Company, which trades on the Saudi stock exchange, will build its sixth facility in Jubail Industrial City to produce 1.2 million metric tonnes per annum (mmtpa) of low-carbon blue ammonia and 1.1 mmtpa of urea and specialised agri-nutrients. Engineering studies […] July 4, 2024
Renewable Energy BP joins Masdar in Egyptian green hydrogen project BP, the British oil and gas company, has agreed to join a consortium including Masdar, the UAE’s state renewable energy company, and others to develop a multi-phase green hydrogen project in Egypt. The plans come as Reuters reports suggest that BP has frozen new offshore wind projects, as it renews emphasis on oil and gas […] July 2, 2024
Renewable Energy Clean energy spend rising but fossil fuels still dominate Investment in clean energy is rising in the Middle East but spending on hydrocarbon production still dominates, the International Energy Agency (IEA) has said. In its World Energy Investment report published on Thursday, the Paris-based watchdog said that for every $1 invested in fossil fuels in the region, only 20 cents was allocated to clean […] June 6, 2024
Renewable Energy Tunisia signs $6.5bn green hydrogen investment deal Tunisia has signed a memorandum of understanding with French company TotalEnergies and Austrian group Verbund to produce green hydrogen (H2V). The first phase of the project, which is expected to cost €6 billion ($6.5 billion), aims to produce 200,000 tonnes of H2V per year, generating 5,000 megawatts (MW) of renewable energy and 2,000MW of electrolysis […] May 28, 2024
Oil & Gas Aramco considers LNG exports as reserves grow Saudi Aramco is looking at building a liquefied natural gas (LNG) export business, as its growing natural gas production looks likely to exceed its domestic needs. The energy giant is optimistic about its gas output. In the first quarter of the year, it announced the addition of 15 trillion cubic feet (Tcf) to its proven […] May 9, 2024
Renewable Energy Morocco offers new incentives for green hydrogen investors Morocco has launched new incentives to attract investors in green hydrogen projects. The Rabat government has allotted 1 million hectares (almost 3,900 square miles) of land for new projects as part of its “hydrogen offer,” the office of Morocco’s prime minister, Aziz Akhannouch, said in a statement. The first phase involves making 300,000 hectares of […] March 17, 2024
