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.



Gold Near Record High; Investors Await Fed Chair Powell's Speech

FILE - Gold bars are shown stacked in a vault at the United States Mint, on July 22, 2014, in West Point, N.Y. (AP Photo/Mike Groll, File)
FILE - Gold bars are shown stacked in a vault at the United States Mint, on July 22, 2014, in West Point, N.Y. (AP Photo/Mike Groll, File)
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Gold Near Record High; Investors Await Fed Chair Powell's Speech

FILE - Gold bars are shown stacked in a vault at the United States Mint, on July 22, 2014, in West Point, N.Y. (AP Photo/Mike Groll, File)
FILE - Gold bars are shown stacked in a vault at the United States Mint, on July 22, 2014, in West Point, N.Y. (AP Photo/Mike Groll, File)

Gold prices rebounded and looked set to scale a fresh peak on Thursday, on mounting expectations for another US interest rate cut this year, while investors awaited Federal Reserve Chair Jerome Powell's address later today for more policy cues.
Spot gold climbed 0.4% to $2,668.05 per ounce, as of 0913 GMT, a few dollars away from the record $2,670.43 it hit on Wednesday.
US gold futures were up 0.2% to $2,691.20, reported Reuters.
"Gold price strength is feeding on itself just now. That’s to say momentum is driving speculative flows despite a rising US dollar and Treasury yields," said independent analyst Ross Norman.
"Powell's comments will be observed for indications about the depth of further cuts. But really it's a case of when, not if."
Last week, the Fed trimmed the benchmark policy rate by 50 basis points to 4.75%-5.00%. Traders now see a 62% chance of an additional 50 bps reduction in November, according to the CME FedWatch Tool.
Lower interest rates boost non-yielding gold's appeal.
Powell is set to give opening remarks later in the day at a conference, where New York Fed President John Williams and Fed Vice Chair for Supervision Michael Barr will also speak.
Markets will also scan the US jobless claims data on Thursday and the core personal consumption expenditure index - the Fed's preferred inflation indicator - on Friday.
Bullion has risen more than 29% so far in 2024, hitting record highs several times, fueled by the US rate cuts, safe-haven demand due to geopolitical and economic uncertainty and robust central bank buying.
"In the coming weeks, gold could set new records and we see $3,000 an ounce as the maximum extension of the bullish movement," analysts at Intesa Sanpaolo said.
"We forecast a 4Q24 gold average of $2,595, as some profit-taking could materialize towards year end."
Among other metals, spot silver climbed 0.9% to $32.16 per ounce, holding close to the four-month high it hit on Wednesday.
Platinum rose 1.8% to $1,005.61 and palladium gained 2.4% to $1,062.36.