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Saudi ACWA Power Signs MoU to Develop Green Hydrogen Project in Tunisia

The memorandum of understanding was signed by Fatma Thabet Chiboub, Tunisia’s Minister of Industry, Mines and Energy, and Marco Arcelli, CEO of ACWA Power. (Asharq Al-Awsat)
The memorandum of understanding was signed by Fatma Thabet Chiboub, Tunisia’s Minister of Industry, Mines and Energy, and Marco Arcelli, CEO of ACWA Power. (Asharq Al-Awsat)
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Saudi ACWA Power Signs MoU to Develop Green Hydrogen Project in Tunisia

The memorandum of understanding was signed by Fatma Thabet Chiboub, Tunisia’s Minister of Industry, Mines and Energy, and Marco Arcelli, CEO of ACWA Power. (Asharq Al-Awsat)
The memorandum of understanding was signed by Fatma Thabet Chiboub, Tunisia’s Minister of Industry, Mines and Energy, and Marco Arcelli, CEO of ACWA Power. (Asharq Al-Awsat)

Saudi Arabia’s ACWA Power signed a memorandum of understanding with the Tunisian Ministry of Industry, Mines and Energy, with the aim to study the implementation of a new project to produce about 600,000 tons of green hydrogen annually in 3 stages, and export it to the European Union.

Under the MoU, ACWA Power will work to establish, operate and maintain electricity generation units with a production capacity of up to 12 gigawatts of renewable energy, including storage systems and transmission lines, in addition to a water desalination plant, electrolysis devices, and infrastructure projects to allow direct connection to the main pipeline.

The company said that the first phase will include the installation of renewable energy units with a capacity of four gigawatts, an electrolysis capacity of two gigawatts, in addition to battery storage facilities, to produce 200,000 tons of green hydrogen annually.

The project aims to export green hydrogen through “South 2”, a hydrogen pipeline developed as an initiative by the European Network of Transmission System Operators for Electricity (ENTSO-E). It is classified as a project of common interest by the EU. This pipeline connects Tunisia with Italy, Austria, and Germany.

The project will support Tunisia’s national strategy for green hydrogen and its derivatives, which was announced in October 2023. The strategy involves implementing an ambitious action plan to export over six million tons of green hydrogen to the EU by 2050, according to ACWA Power.

Ouael Chouchene, Tunisia’s Secretary of State for Energy Transition, said: “This project aligns perfectly with the Tunisian government’s national green hydrogen strategy... which targets an annual production of 8.3 million tons of green hydrogen and byproducts by 2050.”

He added: “We are confident that this agreement with ACWA Power will leverage Tunisia’s strengths, including its strategic geographic location, existing infrastructure, and skilled workforce, to create a more sustainable future for the country.”

For his part, Marco Arcelli, CEO of ACWA Power, said: “We are excited to work with the Tunisian government on this visionary project, bringing our expertise in renewables, desalination and green hydrogen to build a bridge with Europe to help reach its decarbonization targets. This project can also contribute significantly to economic growth, job creation, and sustainable energy solutions, exemplifying our shared vision for a greener future.”

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China Eyes Electric Vehicle Manufacturing Opportunities in Saudi Arabia

Chinese ambassador to Saudi Arabia (Asharq Al-Awsat)
Chinese ambassador to Saudi Arabia (Asharq Al-Awsat)
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China Eyes Electric Vehicle Manufacturing Opportunities in Saudi Arabia

Chinese ambassador to Saudi Arabia (Asharq Al-Awsat)
Chinese ambassador to Saudi Arabia (Asharq Al-Awsat)

China’s ambassador to Saudi Arabia, Chang Hua, expressed Beijing’s hopes to strengthen its partnership with the kingdom, especially in electric vehicle production and other industries.
Speaking to Asharq Al-Awsat, Hua condemned violations of Lebanon’s sovereignty and the targeting of civilians.
He called for immediate action to reduce tensions and prevent further escalation in the region.
“China is deeply shocked by the high civilian casualties from the conflict between Israel and Lebanon,” Hua said, urging the international community to work on calming the situation.
He emphasized that, no matter how things unfold, “China will always stand for justice and remain committed to peace and stability in the Middle East. We are ready to work with all parties to promote peace in the region.”
China’s Economic Growth
Hua highlighted China’s rise from a $30 billion economy to a $17.8 trillion one, making it the world’s second-largest economy and a leader in trade and industry.
He reiterated China’s goal to maintain high-level openness, push for high-quality economic development, and promote a multipolar world with fair global governance and inclusive economic globalization.
Saudi-China Relations
Hua described the partnership between Saudi Arabia and China as entering a new phase of deep development, congratulating Saudi Arabia on its 94th National Day.
He noted that Chinese Premier Li Qiang’s recent visit to Saudi Arabia has boosted bilateral relations and strengthened the comprehensive strategic partnership, driving it towards a more stable and prosperous future.
The ambassador stressed the need to expand trade and investment between the two countries and highlighted the upcoming “Saudi-Chinese Cultural Year 2025” as a key event.
Hua also pointed out that Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman values the strong and historic relationship between the two nations.
The Crown Prince looks forward to further aligning Saudi Vision 2030 with China’s Belt and Road Initiative, expanding cooperation in energy, investment, and culture.
Hua noted that China is Saudi Arabia’s largest trading partner, with bilateral trade exceeding $100 billion in the past two years. He also mentioned the recent currency swap agreement between the two countries, which has helped boost trade and investment.
New Developments in Saudi-China Relations
According to Hua, the cooperation between the two nations has grown significantly, particularly in the automotive, renewable energy, and tourism sectors.
In 2023, Saudi imports of Chinese cars reached $4.12 billion, driven by companies like Changan, Geely, MG, Chery, Great Wall, Hongqi, GAC, and BYD, which have opened branches in the kingdom.
Discussions are ongoing about building local manufacturing plants. China exported 4.91 million vehicles in 2023, making it the largest car exporter globally for the first time, including 1.203 million electric vehicles, a 77.6% increase from the previous year.
Hua noted that Saudi Vision 2030 aims for electric vehicles to account for at least 30% of all cars in Riyadh by 2030, and he expressed optimism about enhancing collaboration in automotive manufacturing.
Chinese companies are also increasingly involved in Saudi Arabia’s renewable energy sector. They are working on multiple solar projects, including the Al Shuaibah photovoltaic plant, the largest of its kind in the world, with a capacity of 2.6 gigawatts.
In July 2023, the Renewable Energy Localization Company (RELC), backed by the Saudi Public Investment Fund, signed agreements with three Chinese firms—Envision Technology Group, Jinko Solar, and TCL Zhonghuan—to establish joint ventures for high-efficiency solar cell production in Saudi Arabia.
These projects will focus on producing solar components, helping Saudi Arabia achieve its goal of sourcing 75% of renewable energy project components locally by 2030.
Hua also highlighted the increasing exchange of visits between citizens of both countries. In September 2023, China and Saudi Arabia signed a memorandum of understanding to facilitate group tourism, making the kingdom an official destination for Chinese tour groups.
Several Chinese travel agencies have begun offering packages to Saudi Arabia, and direct flights between the two countries are increasing. Saudi Airlines has expanded its routes, operating numerous weekly flights between Beijing, Shanghai, Shenzhen, Riyadh, and Jeddah.