UAE’s Blue Carbon investing USD 1.5 bn in carbon offsets in Zimbabwe

Good morning, ladies and gentlemen, and welcome to a busy start to the week in our corner of the climate world. We have a healthy serving of big news stories — plus a whole bunch of climate-related events kicking off today around the region.

THE BIG CLIMATE STORY- Dubai-based offsetting company Blue Carbon signed an MoU with Zimbabwe worth USD 1.5 bn to finance forest protection and rehabilitation projects to generate tradable carbon credits

HAPPENING TODAY-

The Abu Dhabi International Petroleum Exhibition and Conference (Adipec) kicks off at the Abu Dhabi National Exhibition Centre today and runs through this Thursday, 5 October. The event will see heads of the global energy industry and policymakers convene to advance decarbonization and the transition to clean energy, reports Wam. The conference's main pillars are Decarbonization, Maritime and Logistics, and Digitalisation in Energy, and will see companies showcasing the tech driving the industry including direct air capture, carbon capture, utilization and storage, green hydrogen electrolyzers, artificial intelligence, and the Industrial Internet of Things.

Expect climate to be the big focus at Adipec: Discussions on climate are set to be at the top of the agenda at the Adipec summit just two months ahead of UAE-hosted COP28, Bloomberg reports. Oil producers now “want to be part of the energy-transition discussion,” Ed Bell, a senior director for market economics at Emirates NBD PJSC in Dubai, told Bloomberg. However, “they’re going to be stressing the need for reliable supplies and that renewables can’t do the job on their own,” Bell said.

ALSO HAPPENING TODAY- Qatar’s OIC Conference on Food Security and Agricultural Development kicked off yesterday and wraps today. Led by the Organization of Islamic Cooperation (OIC), the ministerial conference will address agriculture and food security in its 57 member states, identifying priorities and solutions and reviewing the work of the IOFS and other OIC institutions in agriculture, rural development, and food security.

THE BIG CLIMATE STORY OUTSIDE THE REGION- The world’s first CO2 border tax officially kicks off: The EU has launched the first phase of the world’s first carbon border, requiring importers to report emissions from products sold in Europe or risk fines, Reuters reported yesterday. The CO2 levy — called the Carbon Border Adjustment Mechanism (CBAM) — will require firms importing steel, cement, aluminum, electricity, fertilizers, and hydrogen into the EU to report CO2 emitted during manufacturing, and eventually charging pollution fees on those products by 2026. The planned tariff has caused disquiet among trading partners, especially Turkey, Ukraine, China, and Russia. Last month, China's top climate envoy Xie Zhenhua urged countries not to resort to unilateral measures like the EU levy, the newswire said.

The border tax also got coverage from: Bloomberg | The Financial Times

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OVER IN COPLAND- UAE FM kicks off Caribbean tour to discuss COP28 preparations + green partnerships: UAE’s Foreign Affairs Minister Abdullah Al Nahyan met with Barbados Prime Minister and climate champion Mia Mottley on Saturday and President of Guyana Muhammad Irfaan Ali yesterday to discuss prospects for boosting cooperation in green projects alongside talks on COP28 preparations, Wam reported. Barbados was the first leg of Al Nahyan’s Latin American and Caribbean tour, which will continue through this week. Reiterating COP28 President Designate Sultan Al Jaber’s position, the foreign minister expressed his support for Mottley’s Bridgetown Initiative, which is expected to be a major topic of contention during the climate summit as developing countries push the West to reform multilateral institutions to reduce excessive risk and unlock crucial green funds.

Food innovation priorities identified ahead of COP28: The COP28 president and the Innovation Commission for Climate Change, Food Security and Agriculture have identified several preliminary innovation areas to help mns of farmers with climate change adaptation and to lower greenhouse gas emissions from agriculture, a statement by COP28 said on Thursday. These include improved weather forecasts, digital agricultural extension services, climate-responsive social protection programs, and necessary training for rainwater harvesting techniques. Other areas include microbial fertilizers, techniques to help lower livestock methane emissions, and alternative proteins, according to the statement.

Why this matters: Food systems account for a third of global emissions, with small farmers in low and middle-income nations being the most vulnerable to climate change, according to the statement.

AND- Could Indonesia be phasing out coal 10 years earlier than expected? Indonesia is planning to formally announce plans to expedite its retirement of coal at COP28, Indonesian Finance Minister Sri Mulyani Indrawati said at a conference in Berlin last week. The plan would see Indonesia cutting out reliance on coal-powered electricity by 2030 instead of 2040 as earlier suggested. The move could help the country — the world’s eighth-largest emitter of greenhouse gasses — access the USD 20 bn package of climate financing announced at last year’s G20 by a US-Japan-led coalition.

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WATCH THIS SPACE #1- Greece and KSA team up to provide EU with cheaper energy: Greece’s IPTO and Saudi Arabia's National Grid are forming a 50/50 joint venture, the Saudi-Greek Interconnection, which would link their power grids to deliver greener, more affordable energy to Europe, Reuters reported. IPTO and National Grid’s agreement will see them look at how feasible it is for the electricity linkage project to move forward.

REMEMBER- This follows an agreement between the governments of Greece, Cyprus, and Israel to establish a subsea electricity transmission cable linking their respective national grids in an effort to increase energy cooperation and investigate trading in renewable energy and natural gas.

WATCH THIS SPACE #2- Some big news from OQ: Omani state-owned natural gas network operator OQ Gas Networks (OQGN) has received orders for all of its shares in its IPO one day after order books opened on the offering in what could be the country’s biggest listing to date, Bloomberg reported on Wednesday. Order books for institutional investors were oversubscribed multiple times at the top of the price range by the end of the first day of bookbuilding, according to Bloomberg. Belgium-based Fluxys International, Saudi Arabia’s Public Investment Fund (PIF), and the Qatar Investment Authority are purchasing a combined 30% as anchor investors, while the retail tranche accounts for 30% of the IPO. The sale could raise up to OMR 297 mn (c. USD 771 mn) if priced at the top range, beating Oman Telecommunications Co SAOG’s USD 748 mn IPO, which is currently the Gulf country’s biggest.

WATCH THIS SPACE #3- Muted demand for Marafiq’s stake sale making PIF think twice: Saudi Arabia’s Public Investment Fund (PIF) has postponed the potential sale of its remaining stake in utility firm Marafiq on the back of weak demand from investors, Bloomberg reported on Sunday, citing sources in the know. They said the PIF has held informal negotiations on raising up to USD 800 mn from a share placement of its 17.5% stake in Marafiq. They said a recent revival of IPOs in the Gulf country has drawn investors away from Marafiq’s placement. A weak performance of the most recent follow-on sales has also made the kingdom’s sovereign wealth fund more heedful about future transactions, they added. The PIF might reconsider Marafiq’s stake sale at a later date, they said.

WATCH THIS SPACE #4- An update on Algeria’s ambitious solar tenders: Algeria’s state power utility Sonelgaz has opened 73 local and international bids for the construction of 15 solar plants with a total capacity of 2 GW, local media reported last week. The state-owned company had earlier pre-qualified 77 of 90 bidding companies to slash them to 73 offers after excluding four offers that did not meet legal requirements, according to the report.

About the plan: The ambitious 2 GW plan comprises 15 solar parks in 12 provinces, with each facility holding a solar capacity ranging between 80 MW to 220 MW each, according to the report.

WATCH THIS SPACE #5- Xlinks’ Morocco-UK power project is of “national significance” to the UK, Energy Secretary Claire Coutinho said in a statement. This recognition will streamline the planning process for the UK startup, which may now skip local district councils and go directly to the government for planning applications, the Financial Times says. Hurdles that still remain, however, include agreeing long-term pricing agreements with the government and obtaining permissions across Moroccan, Spanish, and French jurisdictions.

Remember: Xlinks’ USD 24.5 bn megaproject was first announced last summer, aiming to export some 3.6 GW of wind and solar energy to the UK via sub-sea cables stretching 3.8k km — a move which is expected to supply 8% of the UK’s electricity needs, or 7 mn homes.

WATCH THIS SPACE #6- Hong Kong-based InterContinental Energy secures USD 115 mn for Middle East + Australia green hydrogen investments: Hong Kong’s giga-scale green hydrogen investor InterContinental Energy has raised USD 115 mn in equity investment from French hydrogen investor Hy24 and Singapore’s sovereign fund GIC to finance its green hydrogen expansion plans in the Middle East and Australia, Hy24 said in a statement last week. The projects will be developed in phases, with an overall goal to install 100 GW of renewables, 10 GW of which is scheduled to be operational by the end of the decade. Hy24 will be making its investment through its Clean Hydrogen Infrastructure Fund, the statement said. InterContinental Energy’s portfolio of projects is among the largest in the world and is projected to produce more than 5 mn tons per year of green hydrogen to help offset more than 50 mn tons per year of CO2.

REMEMBER- InterContinental Energy has already made its first moves in the region, breaking ground in Oman: OQ is working with InterContinental Energy on a 14 GW green hydrogen facility, to be powered by 25 GW of wind and solar energy and with a total investment value of USD 30 bn. The facility will produce 1.8 mn tons of green hydrogen and up to 10 mn tons of green ammonia each year. Much of the output would be exported to Europe and Asia, Alicia Eastman, the co-founder and president of InterContinental Energy, told the Guardian last year.

THE DANGER ZONE- Indonesia is racing against time to extinguish wildfires: Firefighters across Indonesia are racing to put out wildfires sparked by an El Nino dry spell, Bloomberg reported on Sunday. Eight of 44 wildfires in southern Sumatra have been extinguished, it reported, citing a statement by the Indonesian Environment and Forestry Ministry. The firefighters are also looking to finish putting out wildfires in Central Kalimantan over the next two to three days, according to the ministry. The wildfires will likely persist due to little to no rainfall in many parts of the country, the country’s Meteorological, Climatological, and Geophysical Agency has warned.

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CIRCLE YOUR CALENDAR-

The Saudi Green Building Forum kicks off next week from Monday-Thursday, 9-12 October. The forum, hosted by the Saudi Municipal, Rural Affairs, and Housing Ministry, will focus on speeding up the construction industry's transition to carbon neutrality by promoting sustainable practices in energy, water use, and green cities.

MENA Climate Week is kicking off soon in KSA’s Riyadh Boulevard City: The UN-backed climate conference, hosted by Saudi’s energy ministry, will gather policy makers, the private sector and civil society organizations from across the MENA region to discuss climate barriers and solutions between 8-12 October. This is one of four region-specific climate weeks to take place after the UN’s global stocktake report and ahead of COP28 this December.

Doha’s Qatar Green Desert goes live: The event will be highlighting green technologies from all over the world to encourage their use to promote sustainable development and greening desserts. Green technology developments from over 80 nations will be exhibited as well as conferences, workshops, and other events aimed at improving Irrigation and forestation in dry areas or near water sources such as lakes, rivers, seas, or oceans. 3 mn people are anticipated to attend the event, set to run through to March 28, 2024.

Check out our full calendar on the web for a comprehensive listing of upcoming news events, national holidays and news triggers.

UAE’s Blue Carbon is looking to create more carbon credits from offsetting projects in Zimbabwe: Dubai-based offsetting company Blue Carbon signed an MoU with Zimbabwe worth USD 1.5 bn to finance forest protection and rehabilitation projects to generate tradable carbon credits, Bloomberg reported on Friday. The project would cover 30k sq miles — or around one-fifth of Zimbabwe’s total landmass.

Carbon offset market? Carbon credits are a tradable instrument that allows companies, governments or other organizations to neutralize their overall carbon footprint by financing projects that reduce or remove CO2 from the atmosphere, with one carbon credit representing one ton of CO2 removed.

The partnership with Blue Carbon could mend the damage done to the African country’s carbon market earlier this year: In May, the Zimbabwean government marked all carbon credit agreements “null and void,” declaring that it would take a 50% cut of revenues from all carbon offsetting projects. The government share of income was later softened to 30% in August, and the projects reinstated. However, the move still left a dent in the USD 2 bn global carbon credit market, alarming investors and causing other governments in Malawi and Zambia to consider following suit.

Zimbabwe is Blue Carbon’s fourth foray into Africa this year: The nature-based solutions firm, which was launched in 2022 by the Private Office of Sheikh Ahmed Dalmook Al Maktoum, inked an agreement with the Liberian government in March to offset greenhouse gas emissions from 10% of Liberia’s land, having also signed partnerships with Tanzania and Zambia back in February, to conserve some 8 mn hectares of forest land in each country in exchange for carbon credits.

Zimbabwe is the third largest source of carbon credits in Africa, and the 12th largest in the world: In 2022, the country delivered 4 mn carbon credits from various projects, according to Carbon Credits. The Kariba Project is its largest project, operated by finance group South Pole.

India imported 37.4 tons of green ammonia shipped from Egypt’s Damietta Port, according to a statement. The shipment — the first to be handled by an Indian port — was imported by Tuticorin Alkali Chemical and Fertilizers (TFL), which is replacing gray ammonia with green ammonia for soda ash production, the statement said, adding that the company plans on importing 2k MT of green ammonia this year.

Egypt has been a key destination for green ammonia exports: OCI and Adnoc joint venture Fertiglobe has signed an MoU with trade and logistics firm AD Ports Group to explore partnerships in storing and shipping urea and ammonia at ports in Egypt and the UAE. Fertiglobe has also commissioned its 100 MW green hydrogen plant in Egypt’s Ain Sokhna, which will generate feedstock for green ammonia production once operational in 2024. Amea signed an agreement with the Egyptian government to set up a 1 GW green hydrogen plant — expected to be up and running by 2027 — on the sidelines of COP27 last November. The plant will be used to produce green ammonia for export markets.

GO DEEPER- We recently had a chat with OCI Global and Fertiglobe CEO Ahmed El Hoshy about the future of low-carbon shipping and green methanol and how the MENA region has lots to benefit from in terms of advancements in green methanol.

India also plans to boost its green ammonia portfolio, as the Indian government-owned energy financier REC announced funneling USD 6 bn into green hydrogen and ammonia projects last week. Coastal projects for green H2 and ammonia are also eyeing funding amid renewed export ambitions thanks to the G20 brainchild India–Middle East–Europe trade corridor.

Saudi Arabia’s private utility Acwa Power said it has received the Initial Commercial Operation certificate for the first phase of its 1.5 GW Sudair solar PV in the country, according to a disclosure to Tadawul on Thursday. The approval for Group 1 of the project — which represents 50% of the plant capacity — was granted by the Saudi Power Procurement Company (SPPC), according to the disclosure.

About Sudair: The project is set to become one of the largest single-contracted solar PV plants globally and the largest of its kind in Saudi Arabia, according to the project’s overview. Sudair is the first project under the country’s Public Investment Fund’s (PIF) renewable energy program, and has recorded the second-lowest cost globally for solar PV electricity production at USD 1.239 cents/kwh.

REMEMBER- A consortium of Acwa Power, PIF’s Badeel, and Saudi Aramco Power Company (SAPCO) established the Sudair One Renewable Energy Company in August 2021. The SAR 3.4 bn company signed a PPA with the SPPC for 25 years as an offtaker for the 1.5 GW Sudair solar plant, which achieved financial close in the same month in 2021.

Big benefits: Sudair PV IPP will have the capacity to power 185k households and offset nearly 2.9 mn tons of emissions per year, according to Acwa Power.

The region has been accelerating its approvals of mega-renewable project development: Dubai-based Amea Power received approval from Egypt’s cabinet to expand its existing solar power projects in Aswan by 1 GW, and its Ras Ghareb wind plant by 500 MW, according to a recent cabinet statement. Amunet — an Egyptian special purpose vehicle that is 60% owned by Amea Power and 40% owned by Japan’s Sumitomo — is currently building the USD 709 mn Ras Ghareb wind farm in Egypt with a capacity of 505 MW and operation start scheduled for 2025. Construction of Amea Power’s 560 MW Abydos solar plant near Kom Ombo in Aswan is also ongoing, and is planned to launch by mid-2024. Both projects secured funding from the IFC at the end of last year, but it is unclear who will finance the newly approved capacities.

Aircapture and 44.01 are bringing a direct air capture + mineralization project in Oman: 44.01 — an Omani developer of carbon mineralization tech — and Aircapture, a direct air capture (DAC) company, are working on a DAC and mineralization project in Oman, reports Oman Daily Observer.

In detail: The companies will break ground on the project in Oman’s Hajar mountains in late 2024, using and upscaling the use of peridotite mineralization in reducing atmospheric CO2 levels. The project will have the capacity of delivering 500 tons of liquid CO2 annually with plans to increase the capacity later on.

About 44.01: The awardwinning carbon removal startup started its operations in carbon capture and storage in Oman in August last year and has been expanding its presence in the region. It collaborated with Adnoc and Fujairah on the USD 15 bn carbon capture and mineralization project in Fujairah in January this year. 44.01 is also collaborating with carbon capture specialist Climatework to study the deployment of DAC with storage in peridotite formations in Oman.

Oman is jumping on its potential for large-scale deployment of DAC and sequestration technologies. The Sultanate gained attention for its potential to host large-scale carbon capture projects, according to an International Energy Agency’s (IEA) report (pdf) in June. “Oman could be well suited for the deployment of DAC technologies. This is because of its abundant solar resources to power the DAC plants and availability of water resources and peridotite formations – both needed for CO₂ mineralization with the goal of carbon removal,” the report read.

Carbon capture is blooming in the region: Carbon capture and storage investments have been gaining traction regionally. Energean, a UK hydrocarbon exploration and production company, also signed an MoU with Shell Egypt to study a proposed carbon capture and storage (CCS) project in Egypt in February. Aramco and Ma’aden also agreed to build sizable CCU facilities last November. OQ also signed an agreement last month with the Oman India Fertiliser Company (Omifco) to explore including carbon capture tech at its Sur ammonia-urea fertilizer production plant.

Abu Dhabi-based International Holding Company (IHC) is offloading its stakes in two Adani Group subsidiaries, IHC said in a disclosure to the ADX last week. The decision, which IHC said is part of its “portfolio rebalancing strategy,” will see two of its subsidiaries — Green Energy Investment Holding and Green Transmission Investment Holding — “dispose of” their minority stakes in Adani Green Energy and Adani Energy Solutions to an undisclosed buyer. The value of the transactions was not undisclosed.

The nitty gritty: Green Energy Investment is selling its 1.26% stake in Adani Green, while Green Transmission is selling its 1.41% holding in Adani Energy Solutions, according to Reuters. The move slashes IHC’s exposure to Adani by 50%, the Financial Times notes.

The move comes just 18 months after IHC invested in Adani, while the Indian company continues to battle fraud allegations, after US short-seller Hindenburg Research accused the group of accounting fraud and stock market manipulation earlier this year. While Adani has denied the allegations, the report triggered a sell-off worth USD 150 bn from the combined stock market value of Adani's 10 listed companies.

The IMF’s Executive Board signed off on a USD 1.3 bn Resilience and Sustainability Facility (RSF) for Morocco, according to a statement by the multilateral lender. The IMF had reached a staff-level agreement with Morocco last month on the loan. The arrangement follows a separate USD 5 bn Flexible Credit Line arrangement approved (pdf) in April 2023 in response to slowed growth and raised inflation due to severe drought and spillovers from Russia’s invasion of Ukraine.

The details: The RSF arrangement will help Morocco “address climate vulnerabilities, bolster its resilience against climate change, and seize the opportunities from decarbonization,” the statement said, adding that it will also help Morocco’s government strengthen its preparedness for natural catastrophes while stimulating financing for sustainable development.

What they said: “Climate change represents a major risk to Morocco’s development but also offers opportunities. Drought and water scarcity have become a major source of macroeconomic volatility, with particularly adverse impacts on agriculture, while the fallout from the recent earthquake points to the potential implications of natural disasters, including from climate change,” IMF’s Deputy Managing Director and Acting Chair Kenji Okamura said according to the statement.

Morocco is a strategic partner in the global climate fight: “Morocco is well-placed to reap the benefits of the global decarbonization agenda. Deploying this potential represents an opportunity for Morocco to put economic growth on a stronger and more resilient path,” Okamura added.

NET ZERO-

Adnoc outlines accelerated roadmap to carbon neutrality by 2045: Abu Dhabi National Oil Company (Adnoc) is planning to reach net zero by 2045, instead of its originally planned 2050, and double its carbon capture capacity by 2030, the oil and gas giant said in a statement. The strategy involves an initial investment of AED 55 mn (USD 15 mn) for related projects and entails: Linking its seabound operations to a clean electricity grid, which should slash its emissions from maritime activities by 50%; increasing its carbon capture capacity to 10 mn tons by 2030; and building a low-carbon ammonia plant with an annual capacity of 1 mn tons.

SOLAR-

Construction kicks off on Sabic’s 187 MW solar plant in Texas: BP has begun construction on its 187 MW Peacock Solar project in Texas, which will power a manufacturing facility owned by Gulf Coast Growth Ventures — a JV between Saudi Basic Industries Corporation (Sabic) and US oil giant ExxonMobil, according to company statement last week. The manufacturing facility will produce clothes, food containers, packaging, agricultural film, and construction materials, according to the statement. Once complete, the solar plant will generate enough renewable energy to power the equivalent of 34k homes annually, and will provide more than USD 25 mn in tax revenue for the first 25 years of operations. Bp is developing, constructing, and managing the project through its 50/50 solar JV with Lightsource. PCL Construction is running the EPC, and will procure ultra-low carbon solar panels and trackers from US-based manufacturers First Solar and GameChange Solar, respectively.

GREEN ENERGY-

The Japanese are tapping Egypt’s green fuel potential: A delegation headed by the Japan External Trade Organization (JETRO) visited the Suez Canal Economic Zone (SCZone) for talks on cooperation in green energy projects in the zone, a statement by the SCZone said on Sunday. SCZone head Walid Gamal El Din highlighted the zone’s integrated infrastructure and proximity to renewable energy sources. The head of the Japanese delegation said Egypt has the potential to become a renewable energy supply hub in North Africa and a future export hub for green hydrogen, according to the statement.

REMEMBER- Egypt’s SCZone is looking to expand the scope of its green methanol bunkering services in the near future, and Scatec signed an agreement in May to set up a green methanol plant in Damietta alongside several local firms at a cost of around USD 450 mn.

OTHER STORIES WORTH KNOWING ABOUT THIS MORNING-

• EV maker Clean Motion has secured a EUR 328k order to supply Neom with vehicles for deliveries on Sindalah luxury island in KSA. Clean Motion signed an agreement in May to develop and deliver an integrated solution for last-mile deliveries tailored for NEOM. (Statement)
• Hong Kong’s Unity Group signed an MoU with UAE's Lead International Investment to see Unity optimizing energy efficiency in 700 commercial and residential buildings in Abu Dhabi. Unity’s customized solutions will reduce energy costs by up to USD 35k per month per building. (Statement, pdf)
• Tunisia extended its tap water quota system with a ban on its use for agriculture until further notice. The measures for rationing water started in March and were expected to end by 30 September. (The National)

A lending hand to finance the greening of a Chinese coal city: The Asian Development Bank (ADB) has approved a USD 300 mn loan to help “catalyze green and inclusive transformation” in an industrial city in a leading coal-producing province in China, a statement by the bank said on Saturday. The loan for the Changzhi Municipality in Shanxi Province will help finance the USD 665 mn project, according to the statement. Some USD 365 mn in financing will be provided by the Chinese government, beneficiaries, and other sources. The project will see investments in low-carbon and climate-resilient infrastructure, including treated wastewater reuse facilities, new public parks, river rehabilitations, and sustainable transport, according to the statement. It is expected to be completed by 2030.

Kenya is planning what could be Africa’s largest wind farm: Kenya’s main power producer Kenya Electricity Generating Company (KenGen) is planning a 1 GW wind farm that could be the largest of its kind in Africa, Bloomberg reported on Friday. The partially state-owned company is eyeing debt finance to help cover 75% of the project’s costs, with the remainder funded through equity, it said in emailed statements to Bloomberg. The project will be located near the 310 MW Lake Turkana Wind Power park, which is currently Africa’s largest wind facility.

Already luring some in: The French Development Agency (AFD) is “taking a close interest” in the Kenyan wind farm, it told Bloomberg. Feasibility studies for the project are being conducted by its consultancy firm Sofreco, it added.

But wait: A proposed 10 GW project by KSA’s Acwa Power in Egypt could crush Kenya’s ambitions to build the continent’s largest wind facility. In July, Acwa Power signed a land allocation agreement with Egypt’s Electricity Ministry for its planned mega project in Upper Egypt’s Sohag. The wind farm will be one of the largest in the world when it is operational, coming second only to China’s planned 20 GW Gansu project.

OTHER STORIES WORTH KNOWING ABOUT THIS MORNING-

• Japan will release the second round of Fukushima wastewater next week despite objections from China. Japan started discharging the wastewater in August, releasing around 8k tonnes out of the 1.34 mn tonnes of accumulated wastewater. (The Guardian)