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CARBON CAPTURE-
Algeria’s Sonatrach and Norway’s Equinor partner on CCUS: Algeria’s state-owned oil firm Sonatrach has signed an MoU with Norwegian energy company Equinor to study the feasibility of establishing carbon capture, usage, and storage (CCUS) projects across their joint gas drilling projects in In Salah and In Amenas, according to a statement. Together with Italy’s Eni, the companies are developing two of the largest gas fields in the country.
REMEMBER- Sonatrach is ramping up CCUS efforts: Sonatrach signed an agreement with Eni in January last year to identify prospects for greenhouse gas and methane emission reduction, as well as initiatives in fields spanning CCUS, energy efficiency, renewable energy, and green hydrogen.
FOOD SECURITY-
FAO-led projects get USD 2.9 bn boost from GEF: The Global Environment Facility (GEF) approved 48 projects led by the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) with an estimated value of USD 2.9 bn to enhance sustainable agrifood systems in 46 countries including Tunisia and Turkey, according to a statement. The initiatives, which should benefit 4.2 mn people, are set to enhance practices on more than 24 mn hectares of terrestrial and marine ecosystems, establish and upgrade the administration of over 2 mn hectares of protected areas on land and in the ocean, restore over 474k hectares of land, reduce 133 mn metric tons of emissions, and eliminate 202 metric tons of harmful agrochemicals
Abu Dhabi’s Masdar City launched a new indoor vertical farm in collaboration with Singaporean agritech firm Alesca Life, The National reports. The project plans to use automated monitoring systems and machine learning to grow 7.8k kg of leafy greens, lettuce and herbs annually inside two repurposed shipping containers. The farm will require 90-95% less water than conventional farms.
RENEWABLES-
SPPC announces bidders for 3.7 GW projects: The Saudi Power Procurement Company (SPPC) has revealed a list of 23 qualified bidders for 3.7 GW worth of renewable energy projects, SPA reported last week. The projects will comprise the 2 GW Al Sadawi IPP, the 1 GW Al Masa’a IPP, the 400 MW Al Henakiyah 2 IPP in Al Madinah, and the 300 MW Al Rabigh 2 IPP in Makkah. The regional and international qualified bidders include Masdar, EDF Renewables, Jinko Power, and Samsung.
We knew this was coming: SPPC issued requests for qualifications for the projects in November. This came a week after the company signed two 25-year power purchase agreements (PPAs) for the fourth round of solar projects under the country’s NREP.
OTHER STORIES WORTH KNOWING ABOUT THIS MORNING-
- Acwa Power + King Fahd University partner on renewables: Acwa Power signed an agreement with King Fahd University to collaborate on tech research and development in critical sectors including renewable energy, battery storage, green hydrogen production, and water desalination. (Statement)
- Egypt licensed 579 EVs in January: Egypt had 579 EVs insured and licensed in January 2024, mainly from Volkswagen, Mercedes, BMW, and Tesla. (Al Bawabah)
