Aramco doubles down on blue hydrogen and ammonia

The Saudi NOC plans to produce 11mn t/yr of blue ammonia by 2030

State-owned Saudi Aramco plans to focus on producing blue hydrogen and ammonia amid a ramp-up of both gas production and CCS technology, rather than investing in renewables to power electrolysis, according to its 2022 annual report. Aramco plans to expand gas production by more than 50pc by 2030, with the Jafurah field—expected to produce up to 2bn ft³/d (56.6mn m³/d) by 2030—anticipated to provide feedstock for hydrogen and ammonia production. The company also intends to construct a 9mn t/yr CCS project at the Jubail industrial complex, expected to be one of the largest in the world on startup in 2027. Aramco has also set up a $1.5bn sustainability fund to invest in energy transition techno