Saudi Aramco: Goal to Produce 11 Mln Tons of Blue Ammonia Remains Unchanged

Aramco dismissed claims of pausing blue hydrogen plans. (Asharq Al-Awsat)
Aramco dismissed claims of pausing blue hydrogen plans. (Asharq Al-Awsat)
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Saudi Aramco: Goal to Produce 11 Mln Tons of Blue Ammonia Remains Unchanged

Aramco dismissed claims of pausing blue hydrogen plans. (Asharq Al-Awsat)
Aramco dismissed claims of pausing blue hydrogen plans. (Asharq Al-Awsat)

Saudi Aramco has clarified that the reports claiming it was pausing blue hydrogen plans are inaccurate.

The company’s goal of producing up to 11 million tons of blue ammonia, a carrier of blue hydrogen, by 2030 remains unchanged, it said in a statement on Thursday.

"Aramco continues to work with potential customers and other stakeholders around the world and is making real progress across the blue hydrogen value chain.”

“This includes receiving the world’s first independent certification with Sabic for blue ammonia and blue hydrogen production, as well as delivering three shipments of blue ammonia to customers in Asia," the statement added.

Meanwhile, Saudi Aramco is pushing back a planned Riyadh initial public offering of its energy-trading business, people with knowledge of the matter told Bloomberg.



Gold Slips as US Bond Yields Rise, Investors Assess New Tariffs

Gold rings are displayed in a gold shop in Chinatown in Bangkok, Thailand August 21, 2018. REUTERS/Soe Zeya Tun/File Photo
Gold rings are displayed in a gold shop in Chinatown in Bangkok, Thailand August 21, 2018. REUTERS/Soe Zeya Tun/File Photo
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Gold Slips as US Bond Yields Rise, Investors Assess New Tariffs

Gold rings are displayed in a gold shop in Chinatown in Bangkok, Thailand August 21, 2018. REUTERS/Soe Zeya Tun/File Photo
Gold rings are displayed in a gold shop in Chinatown in Bangkok, Thailand August 21, 2018. REUTERS/Soe Zeya Tun/File Photo

Gold prices eased on Tuesday, weighed by higher US Treasury yields as US President Donald Trump announced new tariff proposals on trading partners, including Japan and South Korea.

Spot gold was down 0.2% at $3,328.67 per ounce, as of 1207 GMT. US gold futures fell 0.1% to $3,338.20.

The yield on benchmark US 10-year notes rose to a two-week peak, making the non-yielding bullion less attractive.

"Gold is stuck between a rock and a hard place," said UBS commodity analyst Giovanni Staunovo, Reuters reported.

"Negative for the gold price is the US decision to extend the deadline for a trade deal for many trade partners, positive for the gold price is the fact that key US trading partners in Asia might have to deal with higher tariffs in the near future, weighing on economic growth prospects."

On Monday, Trump told 14 countries that sharply higher tariffs would start on August 1, marking a new phase in the trade war he launched in April, with levies between 25% and 40%.

The new deadline was firm, Trump said, adding that he would consider extensions if countries made proposals for a trade deal.

"Reciprocal tariffs" were to be capped at 10% until July 9 to allow for negotiations, but so far, agreements have been reached only with Britain and Vietnam. In June, Washington and Beijing agreed on a framework covering tariff rates.

Meanwhile, China has warned the Trump administration against reigniting trade tensions and threatened to retaliate against nations that strike deals with the US to exclude it from their supply chains.

Trump's tariffs have stoked inflation fears, further complicating the US Federal Reserve's path to lower interest rates.

Investors await minutes of the Fed's June meeting, due on Wednesday, for more clues into the bank's policy outlook.

Spot silver fell 0.1% to $36.71 per ounce, platinum rose 0.2% to $1,372.51, and palladium rose 0.6% to $1,117.33.