Hydrogen Egypt Aims to Expand in Saudi Arabia at the Beginning of 2024

The Saudi flag flutters next to a green hydrogen fuel truck (Asharq Al-Awsat)
The Saudi flag flutters next to a green hydrogen fuel truck (Asharq Al-Awsat)
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Hydrogen Egypt Aims to Expand in Saudi Arabia at the Beginning of 2024

The Saudi flag flutters next to a green hydrogen fuel truck (Asharq Al-Awsat)
The Saudi flag flutters next to a green hydrogen fuel truck (Asharq Al-Awsat)

Hydrogen Egypt is studying a potential expansion in the Saudi market, which constitutes an essential source for providing clean energy supplies to Asian countries.

In exclusive remarks to Asharq Al-Awsat, Eng. Khaled Naguib, Chairman of the Board of Directors of Hydrogen Egypt, said that his company was studying expansion in the Saudi market, which he sees as “exceptionally promising for hydrogen, particularly in the context of supplying clean energy to the growing Asian market.”

Hydrogen Egypt aims to establish its presence in Saudi Arabia, with plans set for the early half of 2024, he underlined, adding that this move indicates a strategic alignment between the Egyptian and Saudi markets in the green hydrogen sector.

He added that Saudi Arabia has tremendous potential in producing and distributing green hydrogen, which qualifies it to lead Asia in this sector, with several countries expected to rely on Saudi-produced green hydrogen for various energy applications, including production, storage, and export.

Naguib told Asharq Al-Awsat that he will discuss this issue with the Saudi Public Investment Fund during his participation in the first hydrogen conference in Egypt, from Sept. 13-14, to know about the intricate details of establishing the Saudi Hydrogen Company.

In 2020, the global hydrogen market was valued at about $150 billion, with expectations that it would reach $600 billion by 2050. The president of Hydrogen Egypt estimated the current value at $200 to $300 billion.



IMF Says Ready to Support Syria Reconstruction when Conditions Allow

A drone view shows al-Yarmouk Palestinian refugee camp, after Syria's Bashar al-Assad was ousted, in Damascus, Syria, December 19, 2024. REUTERS/Zohra Bensemra
A drone view shows al-Yarmouk Palestinian refugee camp, after Syria's Bashar al-Assad was ousted, in Damascus, Syria, December 19, 2024. REUTERS/Zohra Bensemra
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IMF Says Ready to Support Syria Reconstruction when Conditions Allow

A drone view shows al-Yarmouk Palestinian refugee camp, after Syria's Bashar al-Assad was ousted, in Damascus, Syria, December 19, 2024. REUTERS/Zohra Bensemra
A drone view shows al-Yarmouk Palestinian refugee camp, after Syria's Bashar al-Assad was ousted, in Damascus, Syria, December 19, 2024. REUTERS/Zohra Bensemra

The International Monetary Fund stands ready to assist Syria's reconstruction alongside the international community, but the situation on the ground remains fluid, IMF spokesperson Julie Kozack said on Thursday.
Kozack told a regular press briefing that the IMF has had no meaningful contact with Syrian authorities since an economic consultation in 2009, Reuters reported.
"It's too early to make an economic assessment. We are closely monitoring the situation, and we stand ready to support the international community's efforts to assist serious reconstruction as needed and when conditions allow," Kozack said.
Less than two weeks after Syrian opposition fighters toppled Bashar al-Assad's regime and seized control of the capital Damascus, Kozack said that the emerging Syrian authorities face many difficulties after 13 years of civil war.
"The Syrian people have suffered for far too long. We hope that the country can now begin to address its deep humanitarian, social and economic challenges, and to begin the rehabilitation of the Syrian economy," Kozack said.

Kozack also said that the IMF Executive Board will meet on Friday to consider approval of a $1.1 billion disbursement to Ukraine from the IMF's $15.6 billion loan program to the war torn country.

The disbursement, part of the sixth review of the four-year Ukraine loan, would bring total program disbursements to $9.8 billion, with about $2.7 billion available for 2025, Kozack added.