QatarEnergy has broken ground on a 1.2 million tonne per year blue hydrogen-based ammonia project in its home Gulf nation.
On Tuesday the Deputy Amir of the State of Qatar, His Highness Sheikh Abdullah bin Hamad Al Thani, laid the “foundation stone” of the plant in Mesaieed Industrial City.
“This facility consists of an ammonia production unit with a capacity of 1.2 million tonnes per year, along with an additional unit for CO2 injection and storage, with a capacity of 1.5 million tonnes per year,” explained Qatar Energy Minister, Saad Sherida Al-Kaabi.
The project is expected to start production in Q2 2026, using blue hydrogen produced through steam methane reforming (SMR) with CO2 emissions captured.
The Energy Minister added, “This plant will enhance our ability to provide the world with low-carbon products, in line with the global efforts to reduce carbon emissions.”
Mesaieed Industrial City also hosts a large-scale petrochemical export facility, alongside other integrated infrastructure.
Qatar is the largest grey hydrogen consumer in the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC). With limited land availability but large CCS potential, the nation has been looking to leverage its domestic fertiliser industry to develop blue ammonia production.
Policy Pillar: Middle East looks to renew energy player role with hydrogen
Traditionally an oil and gas producing region, the Middle East over the past two years has been flexing its energy player muscles as it accelerates on a drive towards capturing the hydrogen market.
While many of the headlines in 2022 and 2023 were dominated by the vast political race between Europe and North America, Middle Eastern states have worked at pace towards realising renewable and low-carbon hydrogen at scale as it looks to renew their roles as global energy suppliers.
Aside from the politics, the region’s potential has been highlighted in a growing number of reports. The Hydrogen Council’s Global Hydrogen Flows report said, the region would emerge as a “hydrogen export powerhouse” with extensive and large trade flows to Asia…
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