NEOM Completes Deals Worth $8.4 Bln on World's Largest Carbon-Free Hydrogen Plant

NEOM Green Hydrogen Company (NGHC) announced that it has now completed financial deals on the world's largest green hydrogen production facility, with a total investment value of USD 8.4 billion. (SPA)
NEOM Green Hydrogen Company (NGHC) announced that it has now completed financial deals on the world's largest green hydrogen production facility, with a total investment value of USD 8.4 billion. (SPA)
TT

NEOM Completes Deals Worth $8.4 Bln on World's Largest Carbon-Free Hydrogen Plant

NEOM Green Hydrogen Company (NGHC) announced that it has now completed financial deals on the world's largest green hydrogen production facility, with a total investment value of USD 8.4 billion. (SPA)
NEOM Green Hydrogen Company (NGHC) announced that it has now completed financial deals on the world's largest green hydrogen production facility, with a total investment value of USD 8.4 billion. (SPA)

NEOM Green Hydrogen Company (NGHC) announced on Monday that following signing financial documents with 23 local, regional, and international banks and investment firms, it has now completed financial deals on the world's largest green hydrogen production facility, with a total investment value of USD 8.4 billion.

The plant is currently being built at Oxagon, in Saudi Arabia's NEOM region. NGHC has concluded the engineering, procurement, and construction (EPC) agreement with Air Products as the nominated contractor and system integrator for the entire facility.

Additionally, NGHC announced that the non-recourse financing structured for the project has been certified by S&P Global (as the second-party opinion provider) as adhering to green loan principles and is one of the largest project financings put in place under the green loan framework. Air Products has already awarded major contracts to various technology and construction partners.

NGHC also secured an exclusive 30-year off-take agreement with Air Products for all the green ammonia produced at the facility, which will unlock the economic potential of renewable energy across the entire value chain.

An equal joint venture between ACWA Power, Air Products, and NEOM, NGHC's mega-plant will integrate up to 4GW of solar and wind energy to produce up to 600 tons per day of carbon-free hydrogen by the end of 2026, in the form of green-ammonia as a cost-effective solution for the global transportation and industrial sectors.

NEOM Chief Executive Officer and NGHC Chairman Nadhmi Al-Nasr said: "This substantial financial backing from the investment community shows the unmatched potential of NGHC's green hydrogen project. With the financial close announced today, we are taking a massive leap towards opening the plant, in line with NEOM's vision to accelerate renewable solutions."

"At scale, this project is the first-of-its-kind internationally, leading the world in the hydrogen revolution. Harnessing the energy of NEOM's abundant natural resources, NGHC's project will pave the way for the large-scale adoption of green hydrogen while driving Saudi Vision 2030's sustainable development goals," he added.

Chief Executive Officer of NGHC, David R. Edmondson said: "I'm excited to announce that NGHC, together with our three partners ACWA Power, Air Products, and NEOM, has achieved another significant milestone in our project by achieving financial close on the world's largest green hydrogen plant with 23 banks and investment firms."

"This is a historic moment as we drive large-scale adoption of green hydrogen as the clean solution to the world's growing energy demands. This has enabled us to also conclude the EPC agreements with Air Products for a value of USD 6.7 billion," he stressed.

"Today, we are already well underway building the world's largest facility to produce green hydrogen at scale, with production scheduled to begin by the end of 2026," he said.

"We are grateful for the significant support and commitment of our shareholders and the investment community to achieve project financing at this scale and look forward to leading the charge on the global transition to a carbon-free future," he added.

Air Products Chairman, President and Chief Executive Officer Seifi Ghasemi added: "Air Products is proud to be shaping the future of energy with first-mover projects like this one, providing clean hydrogen to the world in a sustainable way."

"Air Products is the exclusive off-taker and will absorb the full production volume of the green hydrogen produced in the form of green ammonia at the NGHC facility to serve global mobility and industrial markets. Producing and exporting green ammonia supports the decarbonization of these heavy-duty transportation and industrial sectors and will save the world about 5 million tons of carbon dioxide per year."

"As the primary EPC contractor and system integrator for the facility, we are proud of the significant progress made with engineering and have awarded all major subcontracts for the project. Land preparation is also complete, construction is well underway, and the joint-venture team is in place and actively executing to bring green energy to the world by the end of 2026," he stated.

ACWA Power Chairman Mohammad Abunayyan, added: "As an energy transition leader and Saudi national champion, ACWA Power is proud to support and facilitate the successful financial close of this iconic green hydrogen project, marking our continued commitment alongside our partners to Saudi Arabia's Vision 2030."

"We have a proven track record of leveraging innovative solutions and advanced technology to deliver clean, sustainable power at the lowest cost. With the combined experience of our global utility scale renewable projects and innovative partners, we are making rapid strides towards the development of NGHC's giga-scale plant, integrating up to 4GW of renewable power from solar and wind energy to supply green hydrogen to global markets at scale," he remarked.

"This is a significant step forward in our shared purpose to accelerate the shift to clean energy and support the Kingdom's decarbonization goal," he said.

NGHC's financial agreements were concluded through a diverse mix of local, regional, and international banks and financial institutions, along-with a Euler Hermes tranche with no fewer than 23 institutions investing in the project in Oxagon.

In January, Saudi Arabia's Ministry of Industry and Mineral Resources awarded its first industrial operating license to NGHC, paving the way for the Kingdom to become the world's leading hydrogen producer, while maintaining its position as a key player in the energy sector.



India’s Modi Lauds Interim Trade Pact After US Tariff Rollback

Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi addresses the media before the budget session of Parliament at Parliament House in New Delhi, India, 29 January 2026. (EPA)
Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi addresses the media before the budget session of Parliament at Parliament House in New Delhi, India, 29 January 2026. (EPA)
TT

India’s Modi Lauds Interim Trade Pact After US Tariff Rollback

Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi addresses the media before the budget session of Parliament at Parliament House in New Delhi, India, 29 January 2026. (EPA)
Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi addresses the media before the budget session of Parliament at Parliament House in New Delhi, India, 29 January 2026. (EPA)

Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Saturday hailed an interim trade agreement with the United States, saying it would bolster global growth and deepen economic ties between the two countries.

The pact cuts US "reciprocal" duties on Indian products to 18 percent from 25 percent, and commits India to large purchases of US energy and industrial goods.

US President Donald Trump, while announcing the deal Tuesday, had said Modi promised to stop buying Russian oil over the war in Ukraine.

The deal eases months of tensions over India's oil purchases -- which Washington says fund a conflict it is trying to end -- and restores the close ties between Trump and the man he describes as "one of my greatest friends."

"Great news for India and USA!" Modi said on X on Saturday, praising US President Donald Trump's "personal commitment" to strengthening bilateral ties.

The agreement, he said, reflected "the growing depth, trust and dynamism" of their partnership.

Modi's remarks came hours after Trump issued an executive order scrapping an additional 25 percent levy imposed over New Delhi's purchases of Russian oil, in a step to implement the trade deal announced this week.

Modi, who has faced criticism at home about opening access of Indian agricultural markets to the United States and terms on oil imports, did not mention Russian oil in his statement.

"This framework will also strengthen resilient and trusted supply chains and contribute to global growth," he said.

It would also create fresh opportunities for Indian farmers, entrepreneurs and fishermen under the "Make in India" initiative.

In a separate statement, Commerce Minister Piyush Goyal said the pact would "open a $30 trillion market for Indian exporters".

Goyal also said the deal protects India's sensitive agricultural and dairy products, including maize, wheat, rice, soya, poultry and milk.

Other terms of the agreement include the removal of tariffs on certain aircraft and parts, according to a separate joint statement released Friday by the White House.

The statement added that India intends to purchase $500 billion of US energy products, aircraft and parts, precious metals, tech products and coking coal over the next five years.

The shift marks a significant reduction in US tariffs on Indian products, down from a rate of 50 percent late last year.

Washington and New Delhi are expected to sign a formal trade deal in March.


Gold Bounces Back on Softer Dollar, US-Iran Concerns; Silver Rebounds

Gold and silver bars are stacked in the safe deposit boxes room of the Pro Aurum gold house in Munich, Germany, January 10, 2025. REUTERS/Angelika Warmuth
Gold and silver bars are stacked in the safe deposit boxes room of the Pro Aurum gold house in Munich, Germany, January 10, 2025. REUTERS/Angelika Warmuth
TT

Gold Bounces Back on Softer Dollar, US-Iran Concerns; Silver Rebounds

Gold and silver bars are stacked in the safe deposit boxes room of the Pro Aurum gold house in Munich, Germany, January 10, 2025. REUTERS/Angelika Warmuth
Gold and silver bars are stacked in the safe deposit boxes room of the Pro Aurum gold house in Munich, Germany, January 10, 2025. REUTERS/Angelika Warmuth

Gold rebounded on Friday and was set for a weekly gain, helped by bargain hunting, a slightly weaker dollar and lingering concerns over US-Iran talks in Oman, while silver recovered from a 1-1/2-month low.

Spot gold rose 3.1% to $4,916.98 per ounce by 09:31 a.m. ET (1431 GMT), recouping losses posted during a volatile Asia session that followed a fall of 3.9% on Thursday. Bullion was headed for a weekly gain of about 1.3%.

US gold futures for April delivery gained 1% to $4,939.70 per ounce.

The US dollar index fell 0.3%, making greenback-priced bullion cheaper for the overseas buyers.

"The gold market is seeing perceived bargain hunting from bullish traders," said Jim Wyckoff, senior analyst at Kitco Metals.

Iran and the US started high-stakes negotiations via Omani mediation on Friday to try to overcome sharp differences over Tehran's nuclear program.

Wyckoff said gold's rebound lacks momentum and the metal is unlikely to break records without a major geopolitical trigger.

Gold, a traditional safe haven, does well in times of geopolitical and economic uncertainty.

Spot silver rose 5.3% to $74.98 an ounce after dipping below $65 earlier, but was still headed for its biggest weekly drop since 2011, down over 10.6%, following steep losses last week as well.

"What we're seeing in silver is huge speculation on the long side," said Wyckoff, adding that after years in a boom cycle, gold and silver now appear to be entering a typical commodity bust phase.

CME Group raised margin requirements for gold and silver futures for a third time in two weeks on Thursday to curb risks from heightened market volatility.

Spot platinum added 3.2% to $2,052 per ounce, while palladium gained 4.9% to $1,695.18. Both were down for the week.


Europe, Türkiye Agree to Work Toward Updating Customs Union

European Union (R) and Turkish flags fly at the business and financial district of Levent in Istanbul, Türkiye September 4, 2017. REUTERS/Osman Orsal
European Union (R) and Turkish flags fly at the business and financial district of Levent in Istanbul, Türkiye September 4, 2017. REUTERS/Osman Orsal
TT

Europe, Türkiye Agree to Work Toward Updating Customs Union

European Union (R) and Turkish flags fly at the business and financial district of Levent in Istanbul, Türkiye September 4, 2017. REUTERS/Osman Orsal
European Union (R) and Turkish flags fly at the business and financial district of Levent in Istanbul, Türkiye September 4, 2017. REUTERS/Osman Orsal

The European enlargement chief and the Turkish foreign minister said on Friday they had agreed to continue work toward modernizing the EU-Türkiye customs union and to improve its implementation, Reuters reported.

European Commissioner for Enlargement Marta Kos met Turkish Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan in the capital Ankara on Friday.

"They shared a willingness to work for paving the way for the modernization of the Customs Union and to achieve its full potential in order to support competitiveness, and economic security and resilience for both sides," they said in a joint statement afterward.

The sides also welcomed the gradual resumption of European Investment Bank (EIB) operations in Türkiye and said they intended to support projects across the country and neighbouring regions in cooperation with the bank.