Air Liquide Egypt and Hong Kong-headquartered energy outfit United Energy Group (UEG) have signed a memorandum of understanding (MoU) to develop projects that produce green ammonia based on green hydrogen, according to the Egyptian Gazette.
The Egyptian arm of the industry gas major – which would supply nitrogen to UEG – can draw on 23 years’ experience in the country, serving a large portfolio of customers across many industries.
Egypt has been actively developing its renewable energy industry in recent years, signing more than 30 MoUs for green hydrogen development that are collectively worth in the region of $175bn – and activity is now going up a gear.
Earlier this month the Egyptian government signed a cooperation agreement with French utility EDF and UAE-based Zero Waste for a $7bn green hydrogen project near the Gulf of Suez that would produce up to 1 million tonnes of green ammonia annually.
Another project in South Sinai is even more ambitious, and potentially worth up to $17bn. It could produce up to 400,000 tonnes of green hydrogen per year. The hydrogen produced could be exported to Europe via the Suez Canal.
Last November, Egypt’s General Authority for Investment and Free Zones backed Egyptian project developer Hynfra in developing a $1.6bn facility that could produce 400,000 tonnes of green ammonia per year, with exports slated to begin to Europe by 2030.
The north African country already produces grey hydrogen for the fertiliser and petrochemical sectors, which could eventually be replaced by green hydrogen and ammonia.
As a leading steel maker, Egypt can also move on the opportunity in green steel using green hydrogen once production of the gas molecule starts to flow.
High-pressure gas storage vessel manufacturer Noble Gas Systems has raised $4.2m to support the testing and commercialisation of its latest gas storage vessels, as well as the development of a new pilot manufacturing plant. The Series B funding round was led by AP Ventures and supported by Air Liquide Venture Capture, the strategic venture capital fund of Air Liquide, among others.
