This week, Saudi Aramco announced its acquisition of a 50% stake in Blue Hydrogen Industrial Gases (BHIG), with the remaining share held by Air Products Qudra.
BHIG will play a crucial role in developing a hydrogen infrastructure in Saudi Arabia’s Eastern Province while also supporting Aramco’s carbon capture and storage (CCS) hub under construction in Jubail.
The company will produce hydrogen derived from natural gas, with emissions captured and stored, as detailed in Aramco’s official statement.
“BHIG is expected to commence commercial operations to produce blue hydrogen in coordination with Aramco’s carbon capture and storage activities in Jubail”, the company said.
Ashraf Al Ghazzawi, Aramco’s executive vice president for strategy and corporate development, remarked, “This network, along with our CCS hub in Jubail, can help us capitalize on emerging opportunities both domestically and globally to reduce carbon emissions, support growth, and diversify our energy portfolio.”
Carbon capture remains a key element of Aramco’s strategy to achieve net-zero Scope 1 and 2 greenhouse gas emissions from its wholly owned assets by 2050. In a separate announcement last week, Aramco unveiled Saudi Arabia’s first direct air capture (DAC) facility for carbon dioxide (CO2).
Relevant: Aramco And Siemens Energy Launch The First DAC Test Unit In Saudi Arabia
Developed in partnership with Siemens Energy, the facility will act as a testing ground for advanced CO2 capture technologies, tailored to the region’s unique climate.
Aramco aims to achieve cost reductions that could accelerate the deployment of DAC technology across the region.
Both companies also plan to work together to scale up this technology, potentially paving the way for large-scale DAC projects in the future.
Ali A. Al-Meshari, senior vice president for technology oversight and coordination at Aramco, highlighted the broader potential of the captured CO2, stating that it can be used to make more environmentally-friendly chemicals and fuels.
Read more: Aramco Backs Ucaneo To Establish Germany’s Largest DAC Facility
