Aramco and Aker is partnering up on CCUS: Saudi Arabia’s oil giant Aramco and Norway-based Aker Carbon Capture have signed a MoU to explore partnership opportunities to employ carbon capture, utilization and storage (CCUS) and industrial modularization in the kingdom, according to a statement released on Thursday. The two-year MoU is set to focus on carbon emissions reduction and removal through the technology from industries and energy solutions by providing modular carbon capture plants.

The UAE outlines its national EV policy: UAE Energy and Infrastructure Minister Suhail Al Mazrouei shed more light on the country’s strategy for electric vehicle adoption as part of a wider National Energy Strategy update released last week, Wam reported on Thursday. The policy will establish a technical and regulatory framework for EV adoption in the country including for EV battery recycling, help set up EV infrastructure nation-wide, as well as provide economic and environmental incentives to accelerate the transition from combustion engine vehicles, Al Mazrouei noted. The new strategy is part of the country’s target to have EVs comprise 50% of all vehicles on UAE roads by 2050. On the EV front, the country’s updated strategy would focus among other areas on establishing a national network of electric vehicle chargers, UAE Prime Minister Prime Minister Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum had said. The policy will contribute to reducing energy consumption in the transport sector by 20% through the UAE’s Green Mobility Project.

The Suez Canal Economic Zone (SCZone) is looking to roll out green methanol bunkering services before 2027, which was the initially expected timeline, Al Mal quotes SCZone chief Walid Gamal El Din as saying. The SCZone is looking to expand the scope of its bunkering services in the near future, he added, indicating that the authority has received hurried requests for services to supply ships with green methanol and green gas products.

OTHER STORIES WORTH KNOWING ABOUT THIS MORNING-

• Digital Dewa — the digital arm of the Dubai Electricity and Water Authority (Dewa) — has signed an MoU with Huawei to boost digital transformation and decarbonization as well as establish a future-oriented power communication network. (Statement, pdf)
• Egypt’s Oil Minister Tarek El Molla met with German natural gas producer Verbundnetz Gas Agbo to discuss cooperation on renewables and green hydrogen production and storage. (Statement)
• UAE President Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan and India’s Prime Minister Narendra Modi have agreed to boost cooperation on renewables and green hydrogen. (Wam)
• UAE’s PureHealth has become the first health sector company in the Middle East, Africa, and Asia to commit to net zero emissions as early as 2040. (Khaleej Times)