Neom green hydrogen project backed by USD 8.5 bn in financing

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WHAT WE’RE TRACKING TODAY

TODAY: Saudi Arabia’s Neom secures USD 8.5 bn in financing for its green hydrogen plant

Good morning, ladies and gents, the news lull is over as we head into the weekend and we have a climate finance heavy issue for you.

THE BIG CLIMATE STORY- Saudi Arabia’s Neom Green Hydrogen Company has signed several financing agreements worth a collective USD 8.5 bn to fund the development of its utility-scale green hydrogen facility. We have chapter and verse on this story and more in the news well, below.

THE BIG CLIMATE STORY OUTSIDE THE REGION-

The EU established the world’s first green bond standard: The European Parliament, EU Commission and EU member states struck a landmark agreement yesterday to establish a bond issuance rulebook combating greenwashing in line with its 2050 carbon neutrality target. Under the new voluntary guidelines, at least 85% of funds raised in any EU-based bond issuance must comply with the bloc’s Taxonomy of Sustainable Activities for it to qualify as a “green” security. Issuers looking to use the term “European green bond (EuGB)” would also have to disclose how proceeds from bonds are channeled towards realizing their long-term net zero targets. If a bond fails to fulfill its commitments under the new rulebook, its issuer would be accountable for losses incurred by investors under the EU’s prospectus regulation.

The story is getting coverage in the international press: Reuters | Financial Times | Bloomberg | Financial Post | The Guardian

HAPPENING TODAY- Egypt will kick off the Corporate Social Responsibility Forum today in Somabay, Hurghada. The event will run until Sunday, 5 March and aims to further discussions put forth during COP27 to boost private and public sector cooperation on climate action.

PSA- Egypt is bringing back daylight savings time to save energy: The Egyptian cabinet has greenlit a draft law to reinstate daylight savings time, rolling Egypt’s clocks forward from April through October, according to a statement.

WATCH THIS SPACE #1- Masdar sinks USD 1.2 bn into UK battery storage projects: UAE renewables company Masdar will invest USD 1.2 bn in UK-based battery storage facility projects, Reuters quotes Masdar CEO Jameel Al Ramahi as saying yesterday at the International Energy Week Conference. The scope of the projects Masdar is targeting and the timeframe of its investment plan were not disclosed.

Not Masdar’s first foray into the British energy playing field: The company acquired UK-based BESS outfit Arlington Energy last October. Under the agreement, the companies will jointly develop, construct, manage, and finance BESS projects under one Masdar-Arlington platform, enabling Masdar to increase its renewables investments and energy storage operations in Europe.

WATCH THIS SPACE #2- The EU aims to crack down on greenwashing giving companies a 10 day window to back up green claims in order to avoid penalties, according to a draft plan seen by the Guardian. The proposed law — due this month — does not outline the penalties to be imposed by the bloc, but will push companies to comply with a new legal framework. If enforced, the law will prevent up to 7 mn tons of CO2 emissions over a 15 year period.

Concerns about greenwashing are prevalent worldwide: Seventeen UN experts appointed by UN Secretary General Antonio Guterres at COP26 to review the integrity of corporate climate pledges concluded that net zero emissions pledges by companies, banks and cities are “rife with greenwashing,” in a report (pdf) published last November.

WATCH THIS SPACE #3- ESG spending continues to be a source of controversy: US financial companies from asset managers and private equity firms are concerned that turning a blind eye to environmental, social, and governance (ESG) spending or actively upping their ESG spending will hurt their financial performance, the Financial Times reports. Split opinions on the matter have led to companies being “perceived negatively by at least some stakeholders and adversely impact our reputation and business,” private equity firm Blackstone said.

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Enterprise Climate is published at 4am CLT / 5am Riyadh / 6am UAE Monday through Thursday by Enterprise, the folks who bring you Enterprise Egypt, your essential 6am and 3pm read on business, finance, policy and economy in Egypt and emerging markets.

Subscribe to Enterprise Climate here or reach out to us on climate@enterprisemea.com with comments, suggestions and story tips.

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COME TO OUR NEXT ENTERPRISE FORUM-

We are delighted to share with you that the Enterprise Exports & FDI Forum will be taking place on 15 May at the Four Seasons Hotel at Nile Plaza in Cairo.

DO YOU WANT TO ATTEND? The first wave of invites is going out soon. If you’re a C-suite exec, exporter, investor, official, banker, or someone who should be part of the conversation, please click here to request a spot at this exclusive event.

What’s the Enterprise Exports & FDI Forum? It is the latest in our series of must-attend, invitation-only gatherings for C-suite-level business leaders. The Enterprise Exports & FDI Forum will discuss the critical topics of exports and foreign direct investment (FDI) in Egypt.

We will be taking an in-depth look into some of the most vital industry topics, including:

How to effectively break into new export markets
How to leverage domestic trends in order to create export opportunities
What foreign investors are looking for
What the government's role should be

Why now? Exports and foreign direct investment (FDI) have never been more important to Egypt’s economy — or businesses — than in the wake of the float of the EGP. We think we have a once-in-a-lifetime chance to build an export-led economy that makes Egypt a magnet for FDI, and all the benefits that will come with it.

Think of the Enterprise Exports & FDI Forum as a hands-on lab for how to turn the devaluation of the EGP into something that will turbocharge your company and our economy.

Who’s on board? Some of the biggest names in business and finance are on board — are you? If you’d like to partner with us on the conference, ping a note to Moustafa Taalab, our head of commercial, here.

CIRCLE YOUR CALENDAR-

The UAE will host the Middle East Energy exhibition from Tuesday, March 7 to Thursday, March 9 in Dubai. The two-day event will gather regional stakeholders and experts including the International Renewable Energy Agency, Siemens Middle East, energy ministers and climate activists to discuss the energy transition. You can register for the event here.

Qatar will host the Earthna Summit from Wednesday, 8 March to Thursday, 9 March in Doha. The event will bring together industry leaders and policymakers to explore tailored solutions for the energy transition in hot climates. You can register for the event here.

Oman will host Oman Sustainability Week from March 12 to March 16 in Muscat. The event aims to create discourse amongst leaders to drive change, and movement within businesses and communities towards adopting a sustainable lifestyle.

The UAE will host the Arab Aviation Summit from March 14 to March 16 in Ras al Khaimah. The event will bring together global stakeholders to address sustainability in the aviation industry among other topics.

The Arabia CSR Awards is accepting applications until Friday, 30 June. The awardwinners will be announced during a ceremony on Wednesday, 4 October.

The first MENA Solar Conference is accepting applications from published researchers specialized in PV technology until Sunday, 30 April. The Dubai Electricity and Water Authority will be hosting the conference from 15 to 18 November, in conjunction with the Water, Energy, Technology, and Environment Exhibition and the Dubai Solar Show 2023. Researchers can submit their papers here.

Check out our full calendar on the web for a comprehensive listing of upcoming news events, national holidays and news triggers.

Neom Green Hydrogen Company secures USD 8.5 bn in financing for mega hydrogen plant

Neom secures financing agreements for green hydrogen plant: KSA’s Neom Green Hydrogen Company (NGHC) has signed several financing agreements worth a collective USD 8.5 bn to fund the development of its utility-scale green hydrogen facility, according to a Tadawul disclosure published yesterday. NGHC is a joint venture between Neom, Acwa Power, and US-based gas supplier Air Products.

Funding breakdown: The investment consists of a combination of long-term debt and equity financing, the statement notes. KSA’s state-owned National Development Fund (NDF) is investing some USD 1.5 bn in the project, while the Saudi Industrial Development Fund (SIDF) is investing USD 1.25 bn. NGHC has also signed long-term loan agreements with 21 local, regional and international banks. Overall, some USD 5.9 bn will be financed with senior debt, and another USD 0.5 bn through mezzanine debt facilities — a hybrid of debt and equity financing — the disclosure notes. It’s reasonable to assume that the rest of the USD 8.5 bn investment consists of equity financing, although the statement doesn’t specify this.

Who else is contributing to the financing? Banks participating in the consortium of financiers included First Abu Dhabi Bank, HSBC, Standard Chartered Bank, BNP Paribas, Abu Dhabi Commercial Bank, Saudi National Bank, KFW, JP Morgan, Korea Development Bank and Credit Agricole.

What we know about the project: The plant promises to be the world’s largest utility-scale green hydrogen facility, producing 1.2 mn tons of green ammonia annually. It will source its power needs from renewable energy projects totaling nearly 4 GW and is expected to be operational in 2026. All of the plant’s output is planned for global export, mainly to the EU and specifically Germany through an exclusive long-term agreement with Air Products, NGHC said.

The project initially cost USD 5 bn: In its 1Q 2023 earnings call last month, Air Products adjusted its overall estimated price tag for the project upward to USD 8.5 bn from the original USD 5 bn due to rising inflation, advance payments for land rights, and USD 1 bn of interest payments on loans to fund the project.

IN OTHER ACWA POWER NEWS- Acwa Power is providing a corporate guarantee to Saudi National Bank that aims to support a USD 100 mn equity bridge loan for Acwa Power subsidiary Shuaibah Holding Company to be used for two of its projects — Al Shuaibah 1 and Al Shuaibah 2 solar PV IPP — according to a Tadawul statement published yesterday. Al Shuaibah 1 (pdf) is an independent water and power project (IWPP) which in its first phase saw the construction of a 900 MW desalination plant capable of producing some 880k m3/day of desalinated water. Planned expansion will see its capacity grow to some 1 mn m3/day. Al Shuaibah 2 is a 2.06 GW solar facility — set to be the largest of its kind in the region — due to achieve commercial operation by 4Q 2025.

Egypt secures a USD 9.13 mn grant from the World Bank for waste management

Egypt is set to receive a USD 9.13 mn grant from the World Bank to tackle the management of e-waste and healthcare waste disposal systems, according to a cabinet statement. The grant — disbursed by the lender's Global Environment Facility — will be used to improve waste management in healthcare and e-waste in a bid to reduce the release of Unintentional Persistent Organic Pollutants (UPOPs).

UPOPs, you say? These pollutants are hazardous chemicals released into the atmosphere either as a byproduct from the production processes of other chemicals or during the incomplete combustion of organic materials and chlorine, according to the UN Environment Programme.

The new grant contributes to a larger initiative: The Greater Cairo Air Pollution Management and Climate Change Project aims to improve the air quality system, streamline solid waste management, and reduce emissions from vehicles among other objectives. The USD 200 mn project was approved in 2020 and expected to run until 2026.

Acwa Powers inks an agreement with Kazakhstan for a wind farm + BESS facility

Acwa Power and Kazakhstan work on wind power and BESS: KSA’s Acwa Power signed an agreement with Kazakhstan’s Sovereign Wealth Fund (Samruk-Kazyna) and the Kazakh Energy Ministry to build and manage a 1 GW wind farm and a battery energy storage (BESS) facility, Okaz reports. The timeframe and investment ticket of both projects were not disclosed.

Kazakhstan is on a renewables roll: UAE’s Masdar inked an agreement with the country to develop a 1 GW wind farm in January, establishing its first project in the Central Asian country. The agreement was inked with the Kazakh Energy Ministry and the Kazakhstan Investment Development Fund to jointly develop the project, with an initial phase producing 500 MW of generational capacity and the added inclusion of potential battery storage facilities.

Masdar earns award for wind project in Uzbekistan

Masdar nabs an award for Uzbekistani project: UAE renewables giant Masdar was awarded the Central Asian Transaction of the Year for 2022 for its 500 MW Zarafshan Wind Project in Uzbekistan at the Project Finance International (PFI) Awards event in London, the company said in a tweet. The project — which is Central Asia’s largest wind farm — is expected to cost some USD 600 mn to build and to come online by end-2024. The Zarafshan Wind Project will replace 1.1 mn tons of CO2 annually and power 500k homes.

The UAE’s Beeah Group received the Blueprint of the Future award from US-based Johnson Controls for its AI-integrated HQ in Sharjah, Wam reported this week. The building — the first of its kind in the region — operates at LEED platinum standards with its own solar plant to supply the majority of its energy needs, using limited amounts of water. The Beeah HQ also uses AI tech powered by Johnson Controls’ OpenBlue software to enable energy efficiency with features like automatic light and temperature adjustments.

Emirates Central Cooling Systems (Empower) won Company of the Year under the energy and utilities category at the Golden Bridge Business and Innovation Awards, Wam reports. The company’s CEO Ahmad bin Shafar was also awarded with the Executive Achievement of the Year under the same category.

Iran discovers a treasure trove of lithium reserves

Iranian geologists have discovered the country’s first lithium reserve with an estimated 8.6 mn tons of mineral, Iranian news agency Mehr News reports. If estimates are correct, this would place Iran in the top five lithium producers globally. The discovery potentially signals the existence of other precious metal deposits in the country, the news agency quotes Director General of Geological Exploration at the Iranian Ministry of Industry Ibrahim Ali Malabiji as saying.

Why is this important: Lithium is a necessary component for the production of EV batteries and electronics. Several countries in the region have been doubling down on mining efforts in a bid to meet rising demand for the mineral, which is among several “green metals” considered key for the energy transition.

OTHER STORIES WORTH KNOWING ABOUT THIS MORNING-

Abdul Latif Jameel-backed EV startup RivianAutomotive posted USD 663 mn in revenues in 4Q 2022, less than analysts’ estimates of USD 742.4 mn. Company shares plunged over 16% yesterday after the news. (CNBC | CNN)

UK-based consultancy Translucidus is partnering with Norwegian wave-power company Havkraft to establish Oman’s first wave energy power generation facilities. (Oman Daily Observer)

Denmark’s Vestas to supply turbines for a 1.6 GW project in Germany + inks agreement for 1.3 GW projects in Brazil

Vestas set to supply turbines for German wind project: Danish wind turbine manufacturing firm Vestas was appointed as preferred wind turbine supplier for the 1.6 GW Nordseecluster wind project in Germany, the company noted in a press release. The project is a joint venture between German energy company RWE and Canadian electricity generation firm Northland Power.

QIA partially owns RWE: Qatar’s sovereign wealth fund — Qatar Investment Authority (QIA) — invested EUR 2.4 bn in major German utilities provider RWE Last October in a debt-to-equity swap that will eventually see QIA own 9.09% of RWE. RWE anticipates the transaction can be completed in 1H 2023.

Part of Vestas’ rapid global expansion: The company signed a conditional agreement to launch wind energy projects generating 1.3 GW of power in Brazil, according to a company statement. The price tag and timeframe of the project have not been disclosed yet.

EIB, EU Commission earmark EUR 4 bn to support clean energy transition: The European Investment Bank (EIB) and the European Commission signed off on a finance package of loans and trust fund contributions totalling EUR 4 bn to support clean energy and sustainable transport projects for member countries of the African, Caribbean and Pacific (ACP) Group of States, according to a statement. The EIB and European Commission will disburse concessionary loans totalling EUR 3.5 bn and a EUR 500 mn trust fund contribution to its ACP Trust Fund until 2027 under the newly approved finance package. The concessional loans will go towards supporting green and digital transitions in the partner countries and the trust fund contribution will support high impact projects such as off-grid renewable energy power plants.

Indonesia officially broke ground on a USD 2.6 bn hydropower facility yesterday, Reuters reports. The 1.375 GW Mentarang Induk plant will be connected to an industrial park including facilities for EV and battery manufacturing, as well as aluminum and petrochemicals, the newswire quotes Indonesian President Joko Widodo as saying. Construction of the plant, which is being developed by a joint venture between PT Adaro Energy Indonesia, PT Kayan Patria Pratama Group, and Malaysia’s Sarawak Energy Corp, is expected to wrap in seven years, Widodo added.

Can refrigeration save the bees?

Can refrigerated bee banks save climate-affected bee populations? Queen bees held in refrigerated containers may have a better shot at surviving hot summers, a new study in the Journal of Apicultural Research picked up by Bloomberg found. Washington University researchers stored queen bees in temperature-controlled containers — a practice referred to as “queen banking” — and left a group of others outdoors in California for six weeks where summer temperatures reach 42°C. The study found that “queen banks” are 16% more likely to survive than bees left outdoors, referencing a study published in Journal of Apicultural Research.

Bee populations are declining at an unprecedented rate globally: Commercial beekeepers in the US have recorded bee colony losses averaging 30% each winter since 2006, up from historical rates ranging between 10-15%, according to research out of the University of Ohio. Bee species have dropped 25% between 2006-2015 globally compared to population sizes recorded before 1990 partly owing to climate-driven shifts in weather patterns, according to research. Closer to home, climate change has been weighing on Egypt’s honey industry, with industry players attributing the decline of honey production to climate-induced shifts in weather delaying harvest seasons, which is ultimately reducing bee population sizes.

Why should we care? Some 3%-5% of fruit, vegetable, and nut production is lost due to inadequate pollination, according to a study in Environmental Health Perspectives, which has led to an estimated 427k excess deaths a year from lost healthy food consumption and associated diseases. We also rely on bee venom for treatments for diseases and conditions like multiple sclerosis, osteoarthritis, and chronic fatigue syndrome.

CALENDAR

MARCH 2023

7-9 March (Tuesday-Thursday): Middle East Energy Exhibition, Dubai, UAE.

8-9 March (Wednesday-Thursday): Earthna Summit, Doha, Qatar.

12-16 March (Sunday-Thursday): Oman Sustainability Week, Oman Convention and Exhibition Centre (OCEC), Muscat.

14-16 March (Tuesday-Thursday): Arab Aviation Summit (AAS), Al Hamra International Exhibition & Conference Centre, Ras al Khaimah, UAE.

15-19 March (Wednesday-Sunday): Qatar International Agricultural and Environmental Exhibition, Doha, Qatar.

22-24 March (Wednesday-Friday): K.ey - The Energy Transition Expo, Rimini Expo Centre, Emilia-Romagna, Italy.

22-24 March (Wednesday-Friday): UN 2023 Water Conference, New York, NY, United States.

APRIL 2023

6 April (Thursday): Arabia CSR Awards 2022 Clinic (online).

MAY 2023

1-4 May (Monday-Thursday): Arabian Travel Market, Dubai, UAE.

2-7 May (Tuesday-Sunday): Salon International de l’Agriculture au Maroc (SIAM), Meknes, Morocco.

16-18 May (Tuesday-Thursday): Seatrade Maritime Logistics Middle East, Dubai, UAE.

29-31 May (Monday-Wednesday): Electric Vehicle Innovation Summit, Abu Dhabi, UAE.

JUNE 2023

1-3 June (Thursday-Saturday): Envirotec and Energie Expo, Tunis, Tunisia.

13-14 June (Tuesday- Wednesday) The Arab Green Summit, Dubai, UAE.

13-14 June (Tuesday- Wednesday) Bloomberg New Economy Gateway Africa Conference, Marrakesh, Morocco.

SEPTEMBER 2023

Chariot Limited and Total Eren’s feasibility study on a 10 GW green hydrogen plant in Mauritania to be completed.

OCTOBER 2023

2-4 October (Monday-Wednesday): WETEX and Dubai Solar Show, Dubai, UAE.

4 October (Wednesday): Arabia CSR Gala Awarding Ceremony, UAE.

31 October – 2 November (Tuesday-Thursday): World Hydropower Conference, Bali, Indonesia.

NOVEMBER 2023

30 November - 12 December: Conference of the Parties (COP 28), Dubai, UAE.

EVENTS WITH NO SET DATE

End-2022

KSA’s Neom wants to tender three concrete water reservoir projects to up its water storage capacity by 6 mn liters.

2023

Early 2023: Egypt’s KarmSolar to launch KarmCharge, the company’s EV charging venture.

1Q2023: Oman will award two blocks of land for green hydrogen projects in Duqm, Oman.

Mid-2023: Sale of Sembcorp Energy India Limited to consortium of Omani investors to close.

Phase C of the 900-MW of the Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum Solar Park in Dubai to be completed.

Saudi Basic Industries Corporation (Sabic) steam cracker furnace powered by renewable energy to come online.

4Q2023: Oman to award four blocks of land for green hydrogen projects in Thumrait, Oman.

2024

End-2024: Emirati Masdar’s 500 MW wind farm in Uzbekistan to begin commercial operations.

QatarEnergy’s industrial cities solar power project will start electricity production.

First 1.5 GW phase of Morocco’s Xlinks solar and wind energy project to be operational.

2025

Second 1.5 GW phase of Morocco’s Xlinks solar and wind energy project to be operational.

UAE to have over 1k EV charging stations installed.

2026

1Q 2026: QatarEnergy’s USD 1 bn blue ammonia plant to be completed.

End-2026: HSBC Bahrain to eliminate single-use PVC plastic cards.

Iraq’s Mass Group Holding wants to invest EUR 1 bn on its thermal plant Mintia in Romania to have 62% of run on renewable energy, while expanding its energy capacity to at least 1.29k MWh.

2027

MENA’s district cooling market is expected to reach USD 15 bn.

2030

UAE’s Abu Dhabi Commercial Bank (ADCB) wants to provide AED 35 bn in green financing.

UAE targets 14 GW in clean energy capacity.

Tunisia targets 30% of renewables in its energy mix.

Qatar wants to generate USD 17 bn from its circular economy, creating 9k-19k jobs.

Morocco’s Xlinks solar and wind energy project to generate 10.5 GW of energy.

2035

Qatar to capture up to 11 mn tons of CO2 annually.

2045

Qatar’s Public Works Authority’s (Ashghal) USD 1.5 bn sewage treatment facility to reach 600k cm/d capacity.

2060

Nigeria aims to achieve its net-zero emissions target.

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