Green Hydrogen: Saudi Arabia, UAE, Oman, and Egypt Lead the Way

A mobile hydrogen-powered unit at Techno Valley Science Park in Dhahran, Saudi Arabia. (Reuters)
A mobile hydrogen-powered unit at Techno Valley Science Park in Dhahran, Saudi Arabia. (Reuters)
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Green Hydrogen: Saudi Arabia, UAE, Oman, and Egypt Lead the Way

A mobile hydrogen-powered unit at Techno Valley Science Park in Dhahran, Saudi Arabia. (Reuters)
A mobile hydrogen-powered unit at Techno Valley Science Park in Dhahran, Saudi Arabia. (Reuters)

The Arab Gulf and Egypt have joined the global race to secure a share of the green hydrogen industry, either through production or through long-term contracts to ensure abundant supplies, amidst worldwide energy sector upheavals.

This aligns with their ongoing efforts to transition their economies to be more environmentally friendly.

Green hydrogen is currently seen as a significant investment magnet, with its market expected to reach a value of $1.4 trillion annually by 2050, according to a report by Deloitte.

The EU has allocated billions of dollars to produce hydrogen both within and outside its member states.

The bloc anticipates an annual need of approximately 20 million tons; of which, it will produce 10 million. The remainder will be imported from abroad, including sources like Egypt and Mozambique.

Similarly, Japan is heavily investing in green hydrogen. It has committed to spending over $100 billion over the next fifteen years to augment supply by securing domestic and foreign sources.

By 2030, Japan anticipates needing three million tons annually, an increase from the current two million. This demand is projected to leap to 12 million by 2040.

Moreover, hydrogen has the potential to play a pivotal role in helping Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) countries achieve their net-zero objectives.

According to PwC, the swift transition to green hydrogen offers GCC nations the opportunity to pioneer in this emerging industry. Green hydrogen could serve as a versatile and primary energy source in a carbon-free future.

PwC suggests that the GCC states have a competitive edge in green hydrogen production due to the abundance of low-cost solar energy. Additionally, the availability of land and port infrastructure within their special economic zones further enhances these natural advantages.

For GCC countries, developing a hydrogen supply chain is of paramount importance, especially since the majority of projects are export-oriented.

Saudi Arabia is constructing the world’s largest green hydrogen production facility in the future mega-city NEOM, located in the Kingdom’s northwest.

With an anticipated cost of $500 billion, the initiative is poised to position the Kingdom prominently on the global map for clean energy transition.

In July, Saudi Arabia announced its intention to join the Global Hydrogen Trade Forum, set to be launched by the Clean Energy Ministerial (CEM). The group is an international coalition formed to advocate for clean energy policies. The forum aims to bring together hydrogen importing and exporting countries to discuss international trade of this fuel.

Also in July, the UAE, which is set to host the UN Climate Change Conference (COP 28) later this year, approved a hydrogen strategy that aims to produce 1.4 million metric tons of hydrogen annually by 2031, positioning the country among the world’s top ten hydrogen-producers.

Oman is also making steadfast strides toward entering the green hydrogen market. The sultanate aims to diversify its energy sources by relying on hydrogen and increase the renewable energy contribution to its national electricity mix to 30% by 2030, with plans to raise this to about 39% by 2040 as part of its carbon neutrality goals.

Egypt, meanwhile, is targeting a production of 5.8 million tons annually by 2024. Out of this, 3.8 million tons are earmarked for export each year, representing 5% of the global green hydrogen market.



Dollar Tumbles as Investors Seek Safe Havens after US Tariffs

US Dollar banknote is seen in this illustration taken July 17, 2022. REUTERS/Dado Ruvic/Illustration/File Photo
US Dollar banknote is seen in this illustration taken July 17, 2022. REUTERS/Dado Ruvic/Illustration/File Photo
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Dollar Tumbles as Investors Seek Safe Havens after US Tariffs

US Dollar banknote is seen in this illustration taken July 17, 2022. REUTERS/Dado Ruvic/Illustration/File Photo
US Dollar banknote is seen in this illustration taken July 17, 2022. REUTERS/Dado Ruvic/Illustration/File Photo

The dollar weakened broadly on Thursday, while the euro rallied after President Donald Trump announced harsher-than-expected tariffs on US trading partners, unsettling markets as investors flocked to safe havens such as the yen and Swiss franc.

The highly anticipated tariff announcement sent shockwaves through markets, with global stocks sinking and investors scrambling to the safety of bonds as well as gold.

Trump said he would impose a 10% baseline tariff on all imports to the United States and higher duties on some of the country's biggest trading partners.

The new levies ratchet up a trade war that Trump kicked off on his return to the White House, rattling markets as fears grow that a full-blown trade war could trigger a sharp global economic slowdown and fuel inflation, Reuters reported.

The dollar index, which measures the US currency against six others, fell 1.6% to 102.03, its lowest since early October.

The euro, the largest component in the index, gained 1.5% to a six-month high of $1.1021.

Trump has already imposed tariffs on aluminium, steel and autos, and has increased duties on all goods from China.

"Eye-watering tariffs on a country-by-country basis scream 'negotiation tactic', which will keep markets on edge for the foreseeable future," said Adam Hetts, global head of multi-asset and portfolio manager at Janus Henderson Investors.

The risk-sensitive Australian dollar added 0.56% to $0.63365, while the New Zealand dollar climbed 0.9% to $0.5796.

The yen strengthened to a three-week high against the dollar and was last up 1.7% at 146.76 per dollar, while the Swiss franc touched its strongest level in five months at 0.86555 per dollar.

"Negotiations are now going to be front of mind. This is probably the other big part of why we're seeing some of these currencies outperform," said Nicholas Rees, Head Of Macro Research at Monex Europe.

"It's very difficult actually to see how other countries make concessions that would encourage the US to lift these tariffs. And I think that's a big underpriced risk."

Investors are worried that some US trading partners could retaliate with measures of their own, leading to higher prices.

EU chief Ursula von der Leyen described the tariffs as a major blow to the world economy and said the 27-member bloc was prepared to respond with countermeasures if talks with Washington failed.

Worries about a global trade war have intensified since Trump stepped into the White House in January, combining with a slew of weaker-than-expected US data to stoke recession fears and undermine the dollar.

The dollar index is down more than 5.7% this year.

"These tariffs have certainly significantly increased the risks to the downside for global growth, so on balance we think that will eventually start to become more supportive again for the dollar," said Lee Hardman, senior currency analyst at MUFG.

In Asia currencies, China's onshore yuan slid to its weakest level against the dollar since February 13. China's offshore yuan also hit a two-month low.

The Vietnamese dong slumped to a record low.

Elsewhere, the Mexican peso and Canadian dollar strengthened.

Canada and Mexico, the two largest US trading partners, already face 25% tariffs on many goods and will not face additional levies from Wednesday's announcement.