Page 16 - DMEA Week 01 2021

DMEA NEWS IN BRIEF DMEA

to be prompted as the private sector to set up models, technologies with lower emissions TERMINALS & SHIPPING
mini oil refineries in all 10 provincial centres. and efficient hybrid solutions,” he said.
We have contacted investors who are willing According to Al-Saadi, the current trend Tensions rise as Saudis
to fund us,” Mvula said. to develop innovative fuels and efficient
The cost of setting up one mini refinery is technologies for internal combustion engines seize Yemen tanker
currently at $500,000. contributes to reducing emissions from the
DAILY MAIL automotive sector in the future. In a further escalation in the already unstable
Saudi Aramco had revealed earlier the situation in the Red Sea, Houthi officials are
MIDOR eyes higher output participation of the first hydrogen-powered accusing the Saudi Arabian-led coalition of
seizing an oil tanker bound for Yemen in
truck in the 2022 Dakar Rally races that had
capacity of Alexandria set off on Jan. 1 from Jeddah on the first leg possible retaliation for the seizure of a vessel
of this year’s more-than-4,000-mile off-road
they said was loaded will military equipment.
refinery race. Produced by the French automotive safety alerts for the region while the United
International officials are sending out
startup Gaussin SA and sponsored by Saudi
The Middle East Oil Refinery Company Aramco, the H2 Racing Truck ran the first States and others have called for a de-
(MIDOR) targets raising the production 12-mile stage of the race as a demonstration escalation in the region.
capacity of Alexandria refinery by 60%, a vehicle. This is part of Saudi Aramco’s project The Yemen Petroleum Company reported
statement by the Ministry of Petroleum and of sponsoring vehicles that run on hydrogen. on January 5 that the tanker Splendour
Mineral Resources revealed. Hydrogen fuel cells are currently lighter than Sapphire was inbound to the Houthi-
With total investments of $2.4 billion, batteries, making them an appealing option controlled port of Hodeidah when the vessel
the refinery will producing EURO 5 diesel for long-haulers. was diverted to Saudi Arabia. They contended
once modern and modified units enter the It is noteworthy that Saudi Aramco that the vessel had been received permission
operational testing process in mid-2022. signed in the first week of December an from the UN and was carrying a vital cargo of
According to the statement, full agreement with the French renewable energy 24,000 tons of Mazut, a low-grade oil, vital to
operational testing of all units will be technology giant Gaussin to establish a daily life in Yemen.
completed by the end of 2022. modern manufacturing facility for hydrogen- The 47,000 dwt tanker is privately owned
ARAB FINANCE powered vehicles in Saudi Arabia. Aramco’s and registered in Panama. The 24-year-old
LAB7 would be working closely with Gaussin’s vessel’s AIS data last received on January 3
hydrogen-powered vehicle and remote showed it sailing from Djibouti and sailing in
FUELS controlled/autonomous hydrogen racing truck the Gulf of Aden. It was reporting that it was
developments. Speaking on the occasion, Al- operating with armed guards aboard.
Aramco to produce Saadi, said that the agreement represents the the fifth tanker that has been stopped by the
The Houthi rebels also alleged that it was
start of an exciting collaboration to advance
hydrogen vehicles locally and promote hydrogen as a low carbon Saudi. In December, they reported that several
vessels had also been diverted by the coalition.
transportation fuel.
Ahmed Al-Saadi, senior vice president of The Dhahran-based state-of-the-art LAB7 They contend that the Saudis are blockading
Saudi Aramco for technical services, said that facility would have 24/7 dedicated workshops their ports placing restrictions on the import
the company aspires to localize production that can accommodate 19 projects and up of oil and other goods.
of hydrogen vehicles in the Kingdom, as well to 300 innovators at any one time. LAB7 is The Saudi-led coalition did not
as to develop related technologies through empowering new generation of innovators immediately respond to a request from
the company’s Advanced Innovation Center, -the digital and technical entrepreneurs of Reuters for comment about the status of the
called LAB7. the 21st century. Named after the landmark ship.
He said that the use of hydrogen fuel would Dammam Well Number 7, the first The apparent seizure of the tanker came
be instrumental in bringing down emissions commercial oil well in Saudi Arabia, LAB7 is a three days after the Houthi on Monday
in the transportation sector, especially in product development initiative that provides a displayed a Ro-Ro vessel that they said they
the category that is difficult to decarbonize platform for 21st century pioneers to develop had seized sailing toward Saudi Arabia
such as heavy vehicles. “Saudi Aramco is groundbreaking ideas from conception to loaded with military equipment. The Saudis
cooperating with major motor manufacturers completion, helping them turn their vision immediately demanded the release of the
and technology developers to support into reality. vessel saying it was carrying equipment from a
developing internal combustion engine SAUDI GAZETTE field hospital.

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