This hydrogen will be converted into green ammonia. (Image source: ACWA Power)

ACWA Power, a global leader in energy transition and the world’s largest private water desalination company, has awarded a convertible front-end engineering design (FEED) contract for its landmark Yanbu Green Hydrogen Project in Saudi Arabia.

The contract has been secured by a consortium comprising Spain’s Técnicas Reunidas and Sinopec Guangzhou Engineering, one of China’s major energy and chemical engineering firms.

Under the agreement, the consortium will deliver the FEED for a facility designed to produce 400,000 tonnes of green hydrogen annually.

This hydrogen will be converted into green ammonia using several ammonia synthesis loops to enable large-scale export and decarbonisation.

Spanning 10 months, the FEED phase will lay the foundation for an engineering, procurement, and construction (EPC) proposal to follow.

The plant is scheduled to be operational by 2030. Técnicas Reunidas has been involved since the project’s pre-FEED stage, while Sinopec’s role builds on its 2024 memorandum of understanding with ACWA Power.

International exports

Located in Yanbu Industrial City, the project is expected to play a key role in decarbonising hard-to-abate sectors. It will harness 5 GW of wind and 5 GW of solar energy, supported by a 400 km transmission line and up to 4.4 GW of electrolysers.

The resulting green hydrogen will be converted into approximately 2.5 million tonnes of green ammonia annually, targeting international markets.

This large-scale initiative supports Saudi Arabia’s ambitions to become a global green hydrogen hub and underlines ACWA Power’s growing role in advancing low-carbon energy solutions.

Marco Arcelli, CEO, ACWA Power, said, “The rapid pace of development on the Yanbu Green Hydrogen Project is a clear demonstration of our commitment to supporting the Kingdom’s long-term energy security while also taking a leadership role in the global transition to sustainable energy. By developing and exporting green ammonia, we aim to support international markets in their decarbonisation efforts and pave the way for a cleaner, more sustainable world.”

Eduardo San Miguel, CEO, Tecnicas Reunidas, said, "This new contract represents a highly significant milestone for Técnicas Reunidas. It is a strategic international energy project that strengthens the cooperation between Saudi Arabia and Europe, in collaboration with our client ACWA Power. The project reaffirms our strong commitment to the Saudi market and marks a major step forward in our strategy in energy transition and decarbonisation and it also reinforces our successful partnership with Sinopec. We are deeply honoured to have been selected by ACWA Power to undertake this landmark project."

Han Weiguo, president, Sinopec Guangzhou Engineering, said, “This project represents a significant leap forward in the global green energy sector and a pivotal milestone in green energy advancement. It will drive global energy transformation and lead the industry toward a sustainable green future. SINOPEC Guangzhou Engineering will collaborate closely with the client ACWA Power and our partner TR to facilitate the implementation of this mega project and make a significant contribution to global green energy development.”

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NMDC Energy continues to experience strong growth. (Image source: NMDC Energy)

NMDC Energy, a subsidiary of UAE-based NMDC Group, has reported continued strong growth in its H1 2025 results

NMDC Energy recorded a 41% year-on-year surge in revenue to AED 8.2bn and a 16% rise in net profit to AED 583mn in the first six months of 2005 as it continued its regional expansion, broadened its capabilities, and diversified its revenue streams.

With award wins in the first half of 2025 totalling AED 13.9bn, and a backlog that stood at AED 49.9bn by the end of June 2025, its pipeline of projects reached AED 66bn by the end of the second quarter.

NMDC Energy’s 400,000 sq m fabrication yard in Ras Al Khair, Saudi Arabia, became fully operational during the quarter, strengthening the company’s offshore EPC and modular construction capabilities across the region.

Mohamed Hamad Almehairi, chairman of NMDC Energy, said, “Our progress this quarter demonstrates NMDC Energy’s pivotal role in building regional industrial capability at pace and at scale, as we charter a strategic path that emphasises future-ready initiatives and targeted growth. These are not just partnerships – they are the building blocks for long-term value and self-sufficiency – as we invest our traditional strengths and emerging opportunities to deliver growth and operational excellence at the forefront of the evolving energy sector.”

Eng. Ahmed Salem Al Dhaheri, CEO of NMDC Energy, added, “We continue to build precision and scale into our operations. We advanced local manufacturing partnerships, expanded regional fabrication capacity, and brought one of the Gulf’s most advanced yards online. These steps position NMDC Energy to undertake more complex EPC work faster and at a greater scale. We are building the next phase of our growth with precision, ambition and impact as we shape a world where infrastructure meets excellence.”

NMDC Energy concluded a three-year extension to its Long-Term Agreement (LTA) with Saudi Aramco and an option for an additional three years,  continuing a strategic partnership focused on offshore projects in Saudi Arabia. The company was also awarded the ICV Excellence Award at MIITE in the Semi-Governmental Manufacturers category, recognising its AED 17bn reinvestment in the UAE economy through support for SMEs, local suppliers and workforce development.

The project aims to modernise the utility’s transmission network

Wipro Limited has secured a multi-year strategic contract from Saudi Electricity Company’s National Grid SA to implement a smart Meter Data Management (MDM) system.

The project aims to modernise the utility’s transmission network by enhancing data visibility, improving operational efficiency, and enabling intelligent grid planning.

Wipro will be responsible for designing, developing, and supporting the MDM system, which will provide real-time insights on power flow, voltage, and equipment performance.

The system’s smart applications will help reduce outages, optimise power dispatch, and support predictive maintenance, ultimately improving service delivery and reducing operational costs.

"We are excited to build a long-standing relationship with National Grid SA and are dedicated to assisting them in navigating the evolving energy landscape,” said Vinay Firake, CEO – Asia Pacific, India, Middle East & Africa (APMEA), Wipro Limited. “With our deep domain expertise in the energy sector, smart solutions and advanced technological capabilities, we are proud to contribute to projects that are essential to the Kingdom’s Vision 2030 and help the Kingdom realise its innovation and digitalisation ambitions."

Last year, the company aimed to enhance renewable energy, by signing a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with key regional energy partners, including Kazakhstan Electricity Grid Operating Company, the National Electric Grid of Uzbekistan, and Azerenerji. Signed during COP29 in Azerbaijan.

The MoU focused on assessing Green Corridor interconnection transmission projects spanning the Black Sea and Caspian Sea regions. These projects aimed to improve transmission efficiency, enable renewable energy exchange, and identify joint investment opportunities in grid infrastructure. It also promoted cooperation in electricity generation and the development of green energy solutions.

All these strategic collaborations support Saudi Arabia’s Vision 2030 and its target of achieving net-zero emissions by 2060, positioning SEC as a regional leader in sustainable energy transformation.

The Middle East, led by Saudi Arabia, is positioning itself as a future rare earth hub

Rare earth elements will be crucial to achieving a low-carbon future. But the world is facing mounting challenges in securing a stable, sustainable supply, according to Rare Earth Minerals and Their Role in the Energy Transition, a new report by Deloitte.

Used in everything from electric vehicle (EV) motors to wind turbines and high-performance electronics, rare earths are in soaring demand.

Deloitte estimates that clean energy technologies alone could drive a 300-700% surge in demand by 2040.

Yet the report also warns of growing vulnerabilities, particularly around supply concentration: China currently processes 90% of the global rare earth supply and accounts for 60% of extraction.

This concentration raises geopolitical risks.

With China expanding its influence over global supply chains, other regions [especially the United States, Europe, and the Middle East] are stepping up efforts to diversify sourcing, invest in recycling technologies, and explore alternative materials.

Regional focus

The Middle East, led by Saudi Arabia, is positioning itself as a future rare earth hub.

Its investments support Vision 2030’s ambition to move away from fossil fuels, but projects in desert environments will face hurdles such as high energy needs and water scarcity.

The report also highlights the environmental cost of rare earth mining and processing.

If poorly managed, these operations can cause land degradation, toxic waste, and water contamination, outcomes that clash with the very sustainability goals the energy transition seeks to achieve.

To address this, Deloitte calls on policymakers to develop robust regulatory frameworks that support responsible extraction, incentivise innovation, and build confidence across the supply chain.

At the same time, industry players are exploring ways to reduce their reliance on rare earths. Some automakers, including Tesla, are moving towards technologies like externally excited synchronous motors that avoid rare earth magnets altogether, potentially mitigating future supply risks while supporting greener manufacturing.

“Rare earth minerals are central to the energy transition but the environmental impact of extraction and processing needs to be carefully considered,” said Alexios Zachariadis, partner at Deloitte Middle East.

“The rising demand for these materials underscores the need for global collaboration to ensure reliable, sustainable supply chains. Governments and industries must move quickly to secure investment in diverse supply sources, pursue technological solutions, and uphold environmental safeguards. This is critical not just for decarbonization, but for maintaining energy security and geopolitical stability.”

“As the energy transition accelerates, the importance of rare earth sustainability will only grow,” added Zachariadis. “Stakeholders must address the dual imperatives of reducing environmental impact and securing long-term supply. Innovations in recycling, advanced extraction methods, and alternative materials will be vital in ensuring the energy transition is both equitable and environmentally sustainable.”

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