Aramco, Linde, and SLB partner on major carbon capture hub in Jubail 

Aramco, Linde, and SLB partner on major carbon capture hub in Jubail 
Located in Saudi Arabia’s Eastern Province, the project is set to be among the largest of its kind globally. File/Supplied
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Updated 04 December 2024
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Aramco, Linde, and SLB partner on major carbon capture hub in Jubail 

Aramco, Linde, and SLB partner on major carbon capture hub in Jubail 
  • Under the agreement, Aramco will hold a 60 percent equity stake, with Linde and SLB each owning 20 percent
  • The initiative supports Aramco’s broader ambition to achieve net-zero Scope 1 and Scope 2 greenhouse gas emissions across its wholly-owned operated assets by 2050

RIYADH: Saudi energy giant Aramco has signed a shareholders’ agreement with Linde and SLB to advance the development of a major carbon capture and storage hub in Jubail,  

Under the agreement, Aramco will hold a 60 percent equity stake, with Linde and SLB each owning 20 percent, according to a press release. 

Located in Saudi Arabia’s Eastern Province, the project is set to be among the largest of its kind globally. It marks a critical step toward Aramco’s emission mitigation goals and aligns with its 2035 interim climate objectives. 

Phase one of the hub aims to capture and store up to 9 million tonnes of CO2 annually, with construction expected to be completed by the end of 2027. Future phases will further expand its capacity. 

“CCS plays a critical role in furthering our sustainability ambitions and our new energies business. This announcement represents a step forward in delivering on our strategy to contribute to global carbon management solutions and achieve our emission mitigation goals,” said Ashraf Al-Ghazzawi, executive vice president of strategy & corporate development at Aramco. 

He added: “Aramco’s collaboration with SLB and Linde demonstrates the importance of global partnerships in driving technological innovation, reducing emissions from conventional energy sources and enabling new, lower-carbon energy solutions.” 

The executive noted that the CCS hub was among several programs that would enable them to meet the rising demand for affordable, reliable, and more sustainable energy. 

The initiative supports Aramco’s broader ambition to achieve net-zero Scope 1 and Scope 2 greenhouse gas emissions across its wholly-owned operated assets by 2050, as well as its interim target to reduce upstream carbon intensity by 15 percent by 2035. 

Oliver Pfann, Linde’s executive vice president for Europe, the Middle East and Africa, noted the project’s significance to Saudi Arabia’s climate goals. “Carbon capture and sequestration is essential for achieving the Kingdom’s emission reduction targets. Linde is proud to collaborate with Aramco and SLB, contributing Linde’s innovative technology and experience in delivering world-scale decarbonization projects,” he said. 

Announced during the Saudi Green Initiative Forum in Riyadh, the project reflects Saudi Arabia’s commitment to achieving its 2060 net-zero target.  

Phase one will capture CO2 from three Aramco gas plants and other industrial sources. The CO2 will be transported through a pipeline network and stored in a saline aquifer, leveraging the region’s geological capacity for carbon storage. 

Gavin Rennick, SLB’s president of new energy, highlighted the hub’s potential to reduce emissions. “Leveraging our proven portfolio of CCS technologies and extensive experience in complex CCS projects around the world, we are confident that SLB will play a critical role in advancing this important initiative. This project aligns perfectly with our commitment to industrial decarbonization, and we look forward to collaborating closely with Aramco and Linde to make it a success.” 

The hub also complements Aramco’s blue hydrogen and ammonia initiatives, reinforcing its efforts to support a circular carbon economy and contribute to the Kingdom’s energy transition.

Pilot carbon capture technology 

Saudi Aramco has also signed an agreement with Carbon Clean and SAMSUNG E&A to pilot a new carbon capture technology targeting CO2 emissions from natural gas turbine exhaust streams.  

The initiative will utilize Carbon Clean’s CycloneCC technology, designed to capture CO2 from exhaust gases with around 4 percent CO2 content. 





(From left to right): Krishna Kumar Singhania, chief growth officer, Carbon Clean; Cheon Hong Park, executive vice president, sustainable solutions business division, SAMSUNG E&A; DongChan Kim, vice president and managing director, SAMSUNG E&A; Aniruddha Sharma, chair and CEO, Carbon Clean; Mohammed Al-Qahtani, downstream president, Aramco; Ahmad Al-Khowaiter, executive vice president, technology & innovation, Aramco; Ali Al-Meshari, senior vice president of technology oversight and coordination, Aramco. Supplied.

CycloneCC features a modular design and a footprint 50 percent smaller than traditional systems. If proven effective, it could lower the total installed cost of carbon capture by up to 50% while maintaining efficiency even with low CO2 concentrations, according to a press release. 

“I am excited about this collaboration with Carbon Clean and Samsung to demonstrate this promising new technology in one of our facilities. If successful, this demonstration will pave the way for the wider deployment of this technology with partners in the Kingdom and beyond,” said Ali Al-Meshari, senior vice president of technology oversight & coordination at Aramco.  

Aniruddha Sharma, chair and CEO of Carbon Clean, expressed pride in strengthening the company’s relationship with Aramco and Samsung Ventures, noting that both are already investors in Carbon Clean. 

“This first-of-a-kind deployment capturing very low concentrations of CO2 is a key milestone in scaling up and commercializing CycloneCC. Its compact, modular design should be easily integrated with gas turbines, delivering high-performance carbon capture in an industrial setting where space is typically limited,” he said. 

SAMSUNG E&A will handle the engineering, procurement, and construction of the plant. The unit will be installed on the exhaust gas stack of a sales gas compressor turbine, with the trial providing critical data on its real-world performance. 

“This project aligns with our mission to deliver innovative solutions that help industries reduce their environmental impact. With the successful execution of the demonstration, I hope that SAMSUNG E&A contributes to Aramco’s carbon reduction ambition, including future scale-up,” said Cheon Hong Park, executive vice president and head of the sustainable solutions division, SAMSUNG E&A. 

The project represents a step toward making carbon capture more accessible and efficient. 


Oil Updates — crude up, heading for 4th weekly gain as US sanctions hit supply

Oil Updates — crude up, heading for 4th weekly gain as US sanctions hit supply
Updated 36 min 3 sec ago
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Oil Updates — crude up, heading for 4th weekly gain as US sanctions hit supply

Oil Updates — crude up, heading for 4th weekly gain as US sanctions hit supply
  • Brent and WTI add about 3 percent so far this week
  • China GDP tops forecast, but oil refinery output declines in 2024

TOKYO/SINGAPORE: Oil prices rose on Friday and headed toward a fourth consecutive weekly gain as the latest US sanctions on Russian energy trade hit supply and pushed up spot trade prices and shipping rates.

Brent crude futures rose 44 cents, or 0.5 percent, to $81.73 per barrel by 7:43 a.m. Saudi time. US West Texas Intermediate crude futures were up 62 cents, or 0.8 percent, to $79.3 a barrel.

Brent and WTI have gained 2.5 percent and 3.6 percent so far this week.

“Supply concerns from US sanctions on Russian oil producers and tankers, combined with expectations of a demand recovery driven by potential US interest rate cuts, are bolstering the crude market,” said Toshitaka Tazawa, an analyst at Fujitomi Securities.

“The anticipated increase in kerosene demand due to cold weather in the US is another supportive factor,” he added.

The Biden administration last Friday announced widening sanctions targeting Russian oil producers and tankers, followed by more measures against Russia’s military-industrial base and sanctions-evasion efforts.

Moscow’s top customers China and India are now scouring the globe for replacement barrels, driving a surge in shipping rates.

Investors are also anxiously waiting to see any possible more supply disruptions as Donald Trump takes office next Monday.

“Mounting supply risks continue to provide broad support to oil prices,” ING analysts wrote in a research note, adding the incoming Donald Trump administration is expected to take a tough stance on Iran and Venezuela, the two main suppliers of crude oil.

Better demand expectations also lent some support to the oil market with renewed hopes of interest rate cuts by the US Federal Reserve after data showed easing inflation in the world’s biggest economy.

Inflation is likely to continue to ease and possibly allow the US central bank to cut interest rates sooner and faster than expected, Federal Reserve Governor Christopher Waller said on Thursday.

Meanwhile, China’s economic data on Friday showed higher-than-expected economic growth for the fourth quarter and for the full year 2024, as a flurry of stimulus measures came into effect.

However, China’s oil refinery throughput in 2024 fell for the first time in more than two decades barring the pandemic-hit year of 2022, government data showed on Friday, as plants pruned output in response to stagnant fuel demand and depressed margins.

Also weighing on the market was that Yemen’s maritime security officials said the Houthi militia is expected to announce a halt in its attacks on ships in the Red Sea, after a ceasefire deal in the war in Gaza between Israel and the militant Palestinian group Hamas.

The attacks have disrupted global shipping, forcing firms to make longer and more expensive journeys around southern Africa for more than a year.


Chief economists expect global economic conditions to weaken in 2025

Chief economists expect global economic conditions to weaken in 2025
Updated 16 January 2025
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Chief economists expect global economic conditions to weaken in 2025

Chief economists expect global economic conditions to weaken in 2025

DUBAI: More than half of chief economists expect economic conditions to weaken in 2025, according to a World Economic Forum report released on Thursday.

“The growth outlook is at its weakest in decades and political developments both domestically and internationally highlight how contested economic policy has become,” said Aengus Collins, head of Economic Growth and Transformation at the WEF.

The outlook is more positive in the US, with 44 percent of chief economists predicting strong growth in 2025, up from 15 percent last year. However, 97 of respondents in the “Chief Economists Outlook” report said they expected public debt levels to rise, while 94 percent forecast higher inflation.

Europe, on the other hand, remains the weakest region for the third consecutive year, with 74 percent of economists expecting weak or very weak growth.

In the Middle East and North Africa region, 64 percent expect moderate growth while a quarter expect weak growth.

Collins said the global economy was under “considerable strain,” worsened by increasing pressure on integration between economies.

A total of 94 percent of economists predict further fragmentation of goods trade over the next three years, while 59 percent expect the same for services trade. More than 75 percent foresee higher barriers to labor mobility and almost two-thirds expect rising constraints on technology and data transfers.

The report suggests that political developments, supply chain challenges and security concerns are critical factors that will likely drive up costs for both businesses and consumers over the next three years.

Businesses are expected to respond by restructuring supply chains (91 percent), regionalizing operations (90 percent), focusing on core markets (79 percent) or exiting high-risk markets (76 percent).

When the economists were asked about the factors contributing to current levels of fragmentation, more than 90 percent pointed to geopolitical rivalries.

This is largely due to the “strategic rivalry” between the US and China, according to the report, along with other geopolitical disturbances, particularly in Ukraine and the Middle East.

Global fragmentation is likely to result in a more strained global landscape with chief economists expecting an increase in the risk of conflict (88 percent), a more bipolar system (79 percent) and a widening divide between the Global North and South (64 percent).

“In this environment, fostering a spirit of collaboration will require more commitment and creativity than ever,” Collins said.


Australian-Saudi Business Council hosts joint forum to help boost trade

Australian-Saudi Business Council hosts joint forum to help boost trade
Updated 16 January 2025
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Australian-Saudi Business Council hosts joint forum to help boost trade

Australian-Saudi Business Council hosts joint forum to help boost trade
  • Event brought together more than 35 participants from both nations to discuss key opportunities for trade and investment

RIYADH: The Australian-Saudi Business Council hosted a joint forum on Thursday to discuss the enhancement of collaboration and trade between the two countries.

Led by Daniel Jamsheedi, the council’s country director, the event brought together more than 35 participants from both nations to discuss key opportunities for trade and investment.

The event, a collaboration with the Federation of Saudi Chambers, aimed to build on the success of the first Australian Pavilion at the Future Minerals Forum in Riyadh this week, and further strengthen the economic partnership between the two countries, organizers said.

Sam Jamsheedi, the president of the council, thanked the federation for the vital role it played in the success of the forum.

“The Federation of Saudi Chambers is one of our key stakeholders and our partner within the Kingdom,” he said.

“As a business council, we appreciate the efforts put in to enable this joint business forum to succeed.”


Closing Bell: Saudi main index rises to close at 12,256 

Closing Bell: Saudi main index rises to close at 12,256 
Updated 16 January 2025
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Closing Bell: Saudi main index rises to close at 12,256 

Closing Bell: Saudi main index rises to close at 12,256 

RIYADH: Saudi Arabia’s Tadawul All Share Index rose on Thursday, gaining 43.82 points, or 0.36 percent, to close at 12,256.06. 

The total trading turnover of the benchmark index was SR6.14 billion ($1.63 billion), with 104 stocks advancing and 129 retreating. 

Similarly, the Kingdom’s parallel market Nomu gained 198.90 points, or 0.64 percent, to close at 31,498.71, as 51 of the listed stocks advanced and 37 retreated. 

The MSCI Tadawul Index also rose, gaining 9.13 points, or 0.60 percent, to close at 1,535.78.

The best-performing stock of the day was Shatirah House Restaurant Co., which debuted on the main market. Its share price surged 5.31 percent to SR22.62. 

Other top performers included Fourth Milling Co., with its share price rising 4.49 percent to SR4.19, and Saudi Paper Manufacturing Co., whose share price surged 3.36 percent to SR67.70. 

Riyadh Cables Group Co. recorded the biggest drop, falling 2.88 percent to SR141.80. 

National Co. for Learning and Education also saw its stock price fall 2.73 percent to SR185.40. 

Buruj Cooperative Insurance Co. also saw a drop in its stock price, falling 2.63 percent to SR22.22. 

On the announcements front, the Arab National Bank has launched the offer of its SR-denominated additional tier 1 capital sukuk under its sukuk program.  

According to a Tadawul statement, the amount, terms, and return on the sukuk will be determined later based on market conditions. The minimum subscription and par value are set at SR1 million. 

The targeted investors are institutional and qualified clients in line with the Capital Market Authority’s regulations. HSBC Saudi Arabia and ANB Capital Co. are joint lead managers for the sukuk issuance. 

Arab National Bank ended the session at SR21.10, with no change in price. 

Tam Development Co. received a purchase order for a project worth SR29.45 million as part of a framework agreement with a government agency announced in March, with a total value of SR200 million. 

Tam Development Co. ended the session at SR200, up 3.45 percent. 

Saudi Real Estate Co. secured Shariah-compliant banking facilities from Bank Al-Jazira worth SR700 million. The facilities will finance ongoing and new projects, as well as expansion investments. 

Part of the financing, up to SR100 million, will support working capital requirements. The loans have a one-year short-term tenure and a maximum of ten years for long-term loans, with promissory notes and real estate mortgages as guarantees. 

Saudi Real Estate Co. ended the session at SR27.30, down 2.01 percent. 


Saudi Ma’aden awards $921m contracts for its 3rd phosphate fertilizer plant

Saudi Ma’aden awards $921m contracts for its 3rd phosphate fertilizer plant
Updated 16 January 2025
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Saudi Ma’aden awards $921m contracts for its 3rd phosphate fertilizer plant

Saudi Ma’aden awards $921m contracts for its 3rd phosphate fertilizer plant
  • Project designed to add 3 million metric tonnes annually to Kingdom’s phosphate production capacity
  • Contracts align with Saudi Arabia’s broader strategy to diversify its economy and expand its industrial base

JEDDAH: Saudi Arabian Mining Co. has awarded three contracts worth SR3.45 billion ($921.58 million) for its third phosphate fertilizer plant, reinforcing the Kingdom’s position in the global market.

In a filing with the Tadawul stock exchange, the national mining firm, also known as Ma’aden, named the contractors as China National Chemical Engineering Co., Sinopec Nanjing Engineering and Construction, and Turkiye-based Tekfen Construction and Installation Co.

First announced in 2016, the project is designed to add 3 million metric tonnes annually to Saudi Arabia’s phosphate production capacity. Estimated to cost SR24 billion, the facility is being developed in phases and was initially projected to reach full capacity by 2024, the company said at that time.

The contracts align with Saudi Arabia’s broader strategy to diversify its economy and expand its industrial base. As part of Vision 2030, the Kingdom is capitalizing on its vast reserves of phosphate, gold, copper, and bauxite to reduce its reliance on oil.

Valued at approximately $2.5 trillion, the Saudi mining sector is regarded as the fastest-growing globally and is positioned as the third pillar of its industrial economy.

The three contracts awarded include an SR1.22 billion agreement for general construction at Ras Al-Khair with China National Chemical Engineering. A second contract, worth SR1.36 billion, was awarded to Sinopec’s subsidiary for construction at Wa’ad Al-Shamal. Tekfen Construction secured the third contract at SR877 million, with work at Wa’ad Al-Shamal included.

The development aligns with Ma’aden’s 2016 announcement of a feasibility study for a world-class phosphate fertilizer production complex in Wa’ad Al-Shamal Minerals Industrial City, situated in Saudi Arabia’s Northern Province.

Ma’aden announced significant discoveries of gold and copper in the Arabian Shield region during the Future Minerals Forum 2025 in Riyadh, further advancing its mining ambitions.

The discoveries include extensive gold deposits at Wadi Al-Jaww and copper reserves at Jabal Shayban. Mineralization at these sites extends from shallow depths of 20 meters to depths of up to 200 meters, highlighting their potential for large-scale extraction, the company added.

Ma’aden also unveiled promising developments at its Mansourah-Massarah gold mine, where drilling has revealed high-grade gold mineralization beyond the current pit design. 

The financial impact of these discoveries is yet to be determined, Ma’aden said in a statement to the stock exchange.