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Aramco, Air Products Inaugurate Saudi Arabia’s 1st Hydrogen Fueling Station

Saudi Aramco and Air Products inaugurated the first hydrogen fueling station in Saudi Arabia. (SPA)
Saudi Aramco and Air Products inaugurated the first hydrogen fueling station in Saudi Arabia. (SPA)
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Aramco, Air Products Inaugurate Saudi Arabia’s 1st Hydrogen Fueling Station

Saudi Aramco and Air Products inaugurated the first hydrogen fueling station in Saudi Arabia. (SPA)
Saudi Aramco and Air Products inaugurated the first hydrogen fueling station in Saudi Arabia. (SPA)

Saudi Aramco and Air Products inaugurated on Tuesday the first hydrogen fueling station in Saudi Arabia at the Air Products’ new Technology Center in the Dhahran Techno Valley Science Park. The pilot station will fuel an initial fleet of six Toyota Mirai fuel cell electric vehicles with high-purity compressed hydrogen, reported the Saudi Press Agency.

The announcement comes amid growing international recognition of hydrogen’s benefits. A report released last week by the International Energy Agency (IEA) concludes that hydrogen has vast potential to help the world reduce emissions while addressing its energy needs.

“This pilot project represents an exciting opportunity for Saudi Aramco and Air Products to demonstrate the potential of hydrogen in the transport sector and its viability as a sustainable fuel for the future,” said Amin Nasser, President and Chief Executive Officer of Saudi Aramco.

“Today’s milestone is an important step in making oil-to-hydrogen a reality as Saudi Aramco continues to be focused on creating breakthrough technologies and solutions as part of our long-term efforts to reduce carbon emissions and address climate concerns.”

“It is well known that our world needs a sustainable system to address environmental challenges while also meeting growing energy demand. Hydrogen and fuel cell technologies are well positioned to be part of the solution,” said Seifi Ghasemi, Air Products’ Chairman, President and CEO.

“We are honored to collaborate with Saudi Aramco to establish and develop a sustainable, hydrocarbon-based hydrogen supply system for fuel cell vehicles in Saudi Arabia.”

The new fueling station combines Saudi Aramco’s industrial and technological experience with Air Products’ know-how and experience in the field of hydrogen fueling.

Air Products’ proprietary SmartFuel® hydrogen fueling technology will be incorporated into the new station to supply Toyota Mirai Fuel Cell Vehicles with compressed hydrogen. The data collected during the initial phase of this project will provide valuable information for the assessment of future applications of this emerging and diverse transport technology in the local environment.

It is expected that the fleet of Toyota Mirai vehicles will have a driving range of 500km with water as their only emission and the ability to be fueled in five minutes as opposed to an hour for traditional battery electric vehicles. This would demonstrate the potential of hydrogen fueled vehicles to make a significant contribution to a clean, secure and affordable energy future.

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Business

Egypt Non-Oil Private Activity Expands Second Month in December, PMI Shows

Fireworks burst over the historical site of the Giza Pyramids, on the outskirts of Cairo, Egypt, early Thursday, Jan. 1, 2026. (AP)
Fireworks burst over the historical site of the Giza Pyramids, on the outskirts of Cairo, Egypt, early Thursday, Jan. 1, 2026. (AP)
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Egypt Non-Oil Private Activity Expands Second Month in December, PMI Shows

Fireworks burst over the historical site of the Giza Pyramids, on the outskirts of Cairo, Egypt, early Thursday, Jan. 1, 2026. (AP)
Fireworks burst over the historical site of the Giza Pyramids, on the outskirts of Cairo, Egypt, early Thursday, Jan. 1, 2026. (AP)

Egypt's non-oil private sector expanded for the second straight month in December, albeit at a slower pace, with firms benefiting from increased new orders and a slight expansion in output, a business survey showed on Tuesday.

The S&P Global Egypt Purchasing Managers' Index (PMI) retreated to 50.2 in December from a 61-month high ‌of 51.1 ‌in November, topping the ‌50.0 ⁠threshold that ‌separates growth from contraction for a second month after holding below that line since last March.

A PMI reading of 50.2 historically correlates with annual gross domestic product growth of approximately 5%, S&P ⁠Global said.

"Improvements in order books have been a ‌clear factor behind strong business ‍performances over the ‍past few months," S&P Global economist ‍David Owen said.

Purchasing activity rose for the first time in 10 months, while employment fell. Cost inflation picked up slightly from its recent low in November, resulting in only a marginal increase in ⁠average selling prices.

Driving the improvement in business conditions were additional expansions in activity and new orders, reflecting reports from survey panelists of stronger demand conditions and increased client spending.

Employment declined, with many firms citing challenges in replacing staff who had left.

The firms surveyed viewed the next 12 months as ‌neutral, with the future output index at 50.

Business

Oil Dips on Ample Supply Outlook, Market Weighs Venezuelan Output

FILE PHOTO: Crude oil drips from a valve at an oil well operated by Venezuela's state oil company PDVSA, in the oil rich Orinoco belt, near Morichal at the state of Monagas April 16, 2015. Picture taken on April 16, 2015. REUTERS/Carlos Garcia Rawlins/File Photo
FILE PHOTO: Crude oil drips from a valve at an oil well operated by Venezuela's state oil company PDVSA, in the oil rich Orinoco belt, near Morichal at the state of Monagas April 16, 2015. Picture taken on April 16, 2015. REUTERS/Carlos Garcia Rawlins/File Photo
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Oil Dips on Ample Supply Outlook, Market Weighs Venezuelan Output

FILE PHOTO: Crude oil drips from a valve at an oil well operated by Venezuela's state oil company PDVSA, in the oil rich Orinoco belt, near Morichal at the state of Monagas April 16, 2015. Picture taken on April 16, 2015. REUTERS/Carlos Garcia Rawlins/File Photo
FILE PHOTO: Crude oil drips from a valve at an oil well operated by Venezuela's state oil company PDVSA, in the oil rich Orinoco belt, near Morichal at the state of Monagas April 16, 2015. Picture taken on April 16, 2015. REUTERS/Carlos Garcia Rawlins/File Photo

Oil prices fell on Tuesday on expectations of ample global supply amid weak demand, and as the market weighed the prospect of higher Venezuelan crude output following the US capture of President Nicolas Maduro.

Brent crude futures fell 0.2%, or 14 cents, to $61.62 a barrel by 0450 GMT while US West Texas Intermediate crude was at $58.13 a barrel, down 0.3% or 19 cents.

Priyanka Sachdeva, senior market analyst at brokerage Phillip Nova, noted the oil price response to major geopolitical events, such as the US military action in Venezuela and ongoing strikes on Russian ‌energy infrastructure, had ‌been surprisingly muted, suggesting fundamental demand-supply factors remained the ‌key ⁠concern.

"From a ‌supply perspective, the oil complex remains packed with barrels. According to the latest International Energy Agency (IEA) and US Energy Information Administration (EIA) data, global crude supply continues to outpace consumption growth, pushing inventories higher and keeping downward pressure on prices," she said. Market participants polled by Reuters in December said they expected oil prices to be under pressure in 2026 due to growing supply and weak demand.

Price pressure ⁠could be exacerbated by the US capture of Venezuela's leader on Saturday, increasing the chance of ‌an end to a US embargo on Venezuelan ‍oil and potentially leading to higher ‍output. Maduro pleaded not guilty in a New York court on Monday ‍to narcotics charges. The administration of US President Donald Trump plans to meet US oil executives this week to discuss boosting Venezuelan oil production, a person familiar with the matter told Reuters.

"I think if the Trump playbook even partially comes to pass, Venezuelan crude oil production should increase... Should it increase, there will be more pressure on an already over-supplied market," said Marex ⁠analyst Ed Meir. Venezuela is a founding member of the Organization of the Petroleum Exporting Countries and has the world's largest oil reserves at about 303 billion barrels. However, its oil sector has long been in decline due in part to under-investment and US sanctions.

Its average output last year was 1.1 million barrels per day. Oil analysts said Venezuelan output could increase up to half a million barrels a day over the next two years with political stability and US investment.

ANZ Research said in a note, however, that they saw heightened levels of political instability as the more likely scenario, and that a significant injection ‌of funds would be required to increase output beyond Venezuela's current effective capacity.

Business

Gold Hits One-week High on Fed Rate-cut Bets, Venezuela Turmoil

FILE PHOTO: UK gold bars and gold Sovereign coins are displayed at Baird & Co in Hatton Garden in London, Britain, October 8, 2025. REUTERS/Hiba Kola//File Photo
FILE PHOTO: UK gold bars and gold Sovereign coins are displayed at Baird & Co in Hatton Garden in London, Britain, October 8, 2025. REUTERS/Hiba Kola//File Photo
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Gold Hits One-week High on Fed Rate-cut Bets, Venezuela Turmoil

FILE PHOTO: UK gold bars and gold Sovereign coins are displayed at Baird & Co in Hatton Garden in London, Britain, October 8, 2025. REUTERS/Hiba Kola//File Photo
FILE PHOTO: UK gold bars and gold Sovereign coins are displayed at Baird & Co in Hatton Garden in London, Britain, October 8, 2025. REUTERS/Hiba Kola//File Photo

Gold rose further on Tuesday to hit a one-week high, as dovish comments from Federal Reserve officials boosted interest rate-cut bets and Venezuela tensions bolstered safe-haven demand.

Spot gold was up 0.5% at $4,469.96 per ounce, as of 0534 GMT, after rising nearly 3% in the last session. Bullion hit a record high of $4,549.71 on December 26, and logged its best annual ‌performance since ‌1979 last year with a jump ‌of ⁠64%.

US gold ‌futures for February delivery rose 0.7% to $4,481.30, Reuters reported.

"(Comments by Fed officials) certainly didn't hurt but it doesn't look like the calculus has changed all that much. We of course have a big week this week with the jobs report on Friday," said Ilya Spivak, head of global macro at Tastylive.

Minneapolis Fed President Neel ⁠Kashkari said on Monday inflation was slowly easing, but there was a risk ‌the jobless rate could "pop" higher, increasing the ‍likelihood of a rate cut.

Investors currently ‍expect at least two rate cuts this year, while they ‍look to the nonfarm payroll report, due on Friday, for more monetary policy cues.

Toppled Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro pleaded not guilty on Monday to narcotics charges after US President Donald Trump's capture of him rattled world leaders and left officials in Caracas scrambling to regroup.

"The capture of Maduro illustrated this rupture ⁠between the US and China and more broadly (the ongoing trend of) de-globalization," Spivak said.

Non-yielding assets tend to do well in a low-interest-rate environment and during times of geopolitical or economic uncertainty.

Spot silver gained 3.5% to $79.18 per ounce, after hitting an all-time high of $83.62 on December 29. Silver ended 2025 with annual gains of 147%, far outpacing gold, in what was its best year on record.

Spot platinum was up 2.8% at $2,334.25 per ounce, after rising to an all-time high of $2,478.50 last Monday. It rose more than 5% ‌earlier in the session to a one-week high.

Palladium traded 1.9% higher at $1,739.25 per ounce.