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NEOM Launches ENOWA to Accelerate Development of World-Class Energy and Water Systems

NEOM announced the launch of its subsidiary company ENOWA, which will lead the development of NEOM's world-class, sustainable energy and water systems. (Twitter)
NEOM announced the launch of its subsidiary company ENOWA, which will lead the development of NEOM's world-class, sustainable energy and water systems. (Twitter)
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NEOM Launches ENOWA to Accelerate Development of World-Class Energy and Water Systems

NEOM announced the launch of its subsidiary company ENOWA, which will lead the development of NEOM's world-class, sustainable energy and water systems. (Twitter)
NEOM announced the launch of its subsidiary company ENOWA, which will lead the development of NEOM's world-class, sustainable energy and water systems. (Twitter)

NEOM announced on Monday the launch of its subsidiary company ENOWA, which will lead the development of NEOM's world-class, sustainable energy and water systems.

Work to develop these utilities has begun to provide the critical infrastructure for NEOM's key projects: THE LINE, its revolutionary urban development; OXAGON, its reimagined industrial city; and TROJENA, its sustainable mountain tourism destination. OXAGON is actively seeking tenants for its manufacturing hub, and supply of energy and water is essential.

NEOM's goal is to ensure all residents and industries in NEOM are powered by affordable 100% renewable energy. This will be the first project in the world that enables this at scale, and NEOM will set the stage for other sustainability projects around the world.

ENOWA represents NEOM as the principal shareholder in the world's largest green hydrogen production plant in an equal joint venture with Air Products and ACWA Power. Coming onstream in 2025, the green hydrogen plant is expected to be the first of several similar plants to make NEOM a hub for green hydrogen production and innovation. The green hydrogen will be exported and used in NEOM for a variety of solutions, including fueling clean, autonomous electric vehicles.

NEOM's water and wastewater system is designed to be completely sustainable, delivering low-cost water to all residents and businesses in NEOM. Powered by 100% renewable energy, the advanced desalination plants will not put anything back into the sea and will deliver drinkable, mineralized water to all in NEOM, directly to the tap or out of a bottling plant.

A significant element of the desalination process is planned to be the production of valuable materials from seawater. The output of desalination, brine, is usually waste, but ENOWA plans to produce significant quantities of valuable, industrial materials such as industrial-grade salt, magnesium, and potassium, which can be sold commercially and effectively.

Saudi Minister of Environment, Water and Agriculture and Chairman of ENOWA Eng. Abdulrahman AlFadley said: "NEOM is committed to sustainability and the creation of a circular economy. This lies at the heart of the project, and it is vital to the nation too. It is central to Vision 2030 and the nation's goal for net zero emissions by 2060. The creation of ENOWA is a significant development for NEOM and the nation, and it will be the blueprint for developments elsewhere for years to come."

CEO of NEOM Nadhmi Al-Nasr, stated: "With the guidance and support of Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman, we are working to make significant global impact through our businesses, projects and our subsidiaries. We welcome new investors and partners to collaborate with us through ENOWA and to help create a circular economy at scale powered by 100% renewable energy and with abundant water for residential and commercial needs."

"ENOWA’s innovative approach will create the blueprint for new, sustainable industries in Saudi Arabia whilst creating a vibrant economic sector. As a trendsetter, ENOWA will become the benchmark for integrated sustainable energy, water and hydrogen systems and extend its approach to other industries to grow the sustainability marketplace both in the region and abroad.”

Peter Terium, CEO of ENOWA, said: "Aligned with NEOM's approach to living in harmony with nature, our new company works in partnership with its environment to create a sustainable cycle. This will provide the resources to power a thriving, sustainable economy."

"Our vision is being brought to life by some of the best minds in the world, leaders in their respective fields, supported by the latest technology and innovation. We cannot and will not be able to do it alone. The challenges the world faces need global collaboration and we look forward to working with leaders around the world in the energy, hydrogen and water industries to drive innovation forward together."

NEOM's greenfield site, with no legacy infrastructure, puts innovation at the heart of ENOWA. It will serve as a catalyst and incubator for new companies, which can be wholly owned, or joint ventures.

ENOWA forms an integral part of NEOM's success. As NEOM pushes the boundaries of environmental sustainability through renewable energy and the treatment and management of water, it is rapidly becoming a global reference point for industry leaders.

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China’s Leader Ends Southeast Asia Tour Touting Beijing’s Reliability vs. US Tariff Threats

This pool photo taken and released on April 18, 2025 by Agence Kampuchea Presse (AKP) shows China's President Xi Jinping (C-L) walking with Cambodia's Senate President Hun Sen (C-R) past the honour guard upon his departure at Phnom Penh International Airport. (AFP)
This pool photo taken and released on April 18, 2025 by Agence Kampuchea Presse (AKP) shows China's President Xi Jinping (C-L) walking with Cambodia's Senate President Hun Sen (C-R) past the honour guard upon his departure at Phnom Penh International Airport. (AFP)
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China’s Leader Ends Southeast Asia Tour Touting Beijing’s Reliability vs. US Tariff Threats

This pool photo taken and released on April 18, 2025 by Agence Kampuchea Presse (AKP) shows China's President Xi Jinping (C-L) walking with Cambodia's Senate President Hun Sen (C-R) past the honour guard upon his departure at Phnom Penh International Airport. (AFP)
This pool photo taken and released on April 18, 2025 by Agence Kampuchea Presse (AKP) shows China's President Xi Jinping (C-L) walking with Cambodia's Senate President Hun Sen (C-R) past the honour guard upon his departure at Phnom Penh International Airport. (AFP)

Chinese President Xi Jinping capped a three-nation Southeast Asia tour in Cambodia on Friday, promoting Beijing's reliability as the region faces economic uncertainty due to US President Donald Trump’s tariff proposals.

China has been strongly increasing its influence in the region over the past decade, largely by exercising its substantial economic leverage. Beijing is now presenting itself as a source of stability and certainty as Trump’s tariffs threaten the region’s export-oriented economies whose largest market is generally the United States.

Cambodia faces among the highest reciprocal tariff rates proposed by Washington. In addition to Trump’s universal 10% tariff, it faces the threat of a 49% tariff on exports to the US once his 90-day pause expires. For the other nations visited by Xi, Vietnam 's tariff would be 46%, and Malaysia 's 24%.

"The timing of the visit is extraordinarily auspicious for China, falling just in the wake of the announcement of Trump’s tariffs that have caused managed consternation in Cambodia and Vietnam ... and upset in Malaysia," Astrid Norén-Nilsson, a senior lecturer in the Study of Contemporary South-East Asia at Sweden’s Lund University, said in an email interview on Thursday.

"Xi Jinping can now carry out the tour equipped with the moral authority and goodwill of a singularly constant friend and reliable trading partner."

In Vietnam and Malaysia, Xi emphasized strengthening ties, particularly in trade and investment, and underscored the need to oppose unilateralism and protectionism and uphold the multilateral trading system.

A summary of the visit issued Friday by Cambodia’s Foreign Affairs Ministry barely mentioned the trade crisis, focusing instead on bilateral relations, though China's state Xinhua news agency said Xi had discussed the same trade issues as on his previous stops.

"This milestone visit not only reaffirmed the unwavering commitment to the ironclad friendship between Cambodia and China, but also further strengthened and deepened the Comprehensive Strategic Partnership and win-win cooperation between the two countries," said the Cambodian statement.

During his stay, Xi was granted a royal audience by King Norodom Sihamoni and held meetings with Prime Minister Hun Manet and Senate President Hun Sen, who is Hun Manet’s father and predecessor as prime minister. The visit was Xi’s first to Cambodia since 2016.

Xi and Hun Manet also presided over the signing of 37 documents covering investment, trade, education, finance, information, youth work, agriculture, health, water resources, tourism, women’s affairs and other subjects.

Details of the biggest deal were announced Friday, the signing of a public-private partnership contract to fund Cambodia's ambitious $1.156 billion Funan Techo Canal project, which was launched last year but work stopped soon after groundbreaking.

The 151 kilometer (94 mile)-long canal would link a branch of the Mekong River to a port on the Gulf of Thailand.

China has been Cambodia’s largest trading partner for 13 consecutive years, with two-way trade in 2024 reaching $17.83 billion, though greatly in China’s favor. It has also been Cambodia’s largest source of foreign investment for 13 consecutive years, as well as a major aid donor and its biggest creditor.

Referring to social and development issues, the Foreign Ministry's statement implicitly made a contrast to positions held by the United States, saying "both sides acknowledged the global threat posed by climate change and committed to strengthening environmental protection (and) advancing clean energy collaboration."

It mentioned as well China’s help in dealing with Cambodia’s problem of clearing land mines left over from armed conflicts decades ago, and cooperation in the health sector. The Trump administration’s foreign aid cuts have affected those and other sectors.

The statement also declared that "both sides agreed to further strengthen the cooperation mechanism between the armed forces of the two countries."

Beijing helped fund an expansion of the Ream Naval Base on Cambodia’s southern coast, raising worries it could become a strategic outpost for the Chinese navy in the Gulf of Thailand.

The statement did not mention the base issue. Cambodia has repeatedly denied any agreement granting China special privileges or the establishment of a foreign military base.

Cambodia has stated that warships from all friendly countries are welcome to dock at its new pier, provided they comply with certain conditions. Japan announced on Tuesday that two of its minesweepers will visit the Ream base this weekend in the first foreign navy visit since the expansion project was completed.