Aramco and Sabic Agri-Nutrients certified for blue hydrogen and ammonia production

Saudi Aramco, the world’s largest oil-exporting company and fertiliser producer Sabic Agri-Nutrients (Sabic AN) received the world’s first independent certificate of accreditation for producing blue hydrogen and ammonia products, as they focus on decarbonising their operations.

TUV Rheinland, an independent testing, inspection and certification agency based in Germany, awarded certificates to the two companies, they said in a joint statement on Thursday.

Sabic AN, a unit of the Middle East’s largest petrochemicals company, Sabic, was recognised for producing 37,800 tonnes of blue ammonia, while Sasref, a wholly owned refinery of Saudi Aramco, received the certificate for producing 8,075 tonnes of blue hydrogen.

“The new certifications represent another milestone for Aramco and Sabic to become global leaders in hydrogen and ammonia,” the statement said.

To certify ammonia and hydrogen as blue, a significant part of the carbon dioxide associated with the manufacturing process should be captured and utilised in downstream applications.

The demand for hydrogen continues to rise as the world focuses on cutting emissions to limit global warming.

Globally, the size of the hydrogen industry is expected to hit $183 billion by 2023, up from $129bn in 2017, according to Fitch Solutions. French investment bank Natixis estimates that investment in hydrogen will exceed $300bn by 2030.

“Sabic recognises that hydrogen will play an essential role in decarbonisation and it is part of Sabic’s overall road map toward carbon neutrality by 2050, with a 20 per cent reduction target in carbon emissions by 2030,” said Fahad Al Sherehy, Sabic's vice president of energy efficiency and carbon management.

The new initiatives will also support Saudi Arabia’s goal to become carbon neutral by 2060, he said.

Aramco recently announced it targets to produce up to 11 million tonnes per annum of blue ammonia by 2030 and is currently developing carbon capture and hydrogen capabilities. Blue hydrogen production is expected to contribute to its target to become carbon neutral by 2050.

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In 2020, Aramco and Sabic also collaborated on the world's first shipment of blue ammonia, a carrier of hydrogen, from Saudi Arabia to Japan. Forty tonnes of high-grade blue ammonia was sent for use in low-carbon power generation in the Asian country.

Keane on …

Liverpool’s Uefa Champions League bid: “They’re great. With the attacking force they have, for me, they’re certainly one of the favourites. You look at the teams left in it - they’re capable of scoring against anybody at any given time. Defensively they’ve been good, so I don’t see any reason why they couldn’t go on and win it.”

Mohamed Salah’s debut campaign at Anfield: “Unbelievable. He’s been phenomenal. You can name the front three, but for him on a personal level, he’s been unreal. He’s been great to watch and hopefully he can continue now until the end of the season - which I’m sure he will, because he’s been in fine form. He’s been incredible this season.”

Zlatan Ibrahimovic’s instant impact at former club LA Galaxy: “Brilliant. It’s been a great start for him and for the club. They were crying out for another big name there. They were lacking that, for the prestige of LA Galaxy. And now they have one of the finest stars. I hope they can go win something this year.”

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Country-size land deals

US interest in purchasing territory is not as outlandish as it sounds. Here's a look at some big land transactions between nations:

Louisiana Purchase

If Donald Trump is one who aims to broker "a deal of the century", then this was the "deal of the 19th Century". In 1803, the US nearly doubled in size when it bought 2,140,000 square kilometres from France for $15 million.

Florida Purchase Treaty

The US courted Spain for Florida for years. Spain eventually realised its burden in holding on to the territory and in 1819 effectively ceded it to America in a wider border treaty.

Alaska purchase

America's spending spree continued in 1867 when it acquired 1,518,800 km² of Alaskan land from Russia for $7.2m. Critics panned the government for buying "useless land".

The Philippines

At the end of the Spanish-American War, a provision in the 1898 Treaty of Paris saw Spain surrender the Philippines for a payment of $20 million.

US Virgin Islands

It's not like a US president has never reached a deal with Denmark before. In 1917 the US purchased the Danish West Indies for $25m and renamed them the US Virgin Islands.

Gwadar

The most recent sovereign land purchase was in 1958 when Pakistan bought the southwestern port of Gwadar from Oman for 5.5bn Pakistan rupees.

Jebel Ali Dragons 26 Bahrain 23

Dragons
Tries: Hayes, Richards, Cooper
Cons: Love
Pens: Love 3

Bahrain
Tries: Kenny, Crombie, Tantoh
Cons: Phillips
Pens: Phillips 2

Walls

Louis Tomlinson

3 out of 5 stars

(Syco Music/Arista Records)

Honeymoonish

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