meed-logo

line1 line2 line3
SIGN IN / REGISTER

Process technology adoption is poised for growth

27 March 2024

 

Process technologies have played a pivotal role in the oil, gas and petrochemicals industries for decades. Now, the global energy industry, and the oil and gas sector in Middle East and North Africa (Mena) in particular, is at a turning point and needs to rely on the adoption of licensed technologies to be able to transition effectively.

The energy transition is gathering pace in the region. Oil and gas producers are increasingly investing in environmental sustainability projects and exploring new frontiers such as carbon capture, utilisation and storage (CCUS) and hydrogen, while the petrochemicals industry is making sweeping changes to its operations in light of its growing importance in the modern economy.

As a result, the stage is set for swift and comprehensive adoption of process technologies in the Mena region's oil, gas and petrochemicals industries. 

Germany-headquartered Linde Engineering is eager and prepared to meet the evolving and complex needs of its customers, according to John van der Velden, the company's senior vice president of engineering, sales and technology.

“Hydrogen and efficient carbon dioxide (CO2) capture are the future of the energy transition, and our goal is to ensure that the GCC has the technology it needs to shape this opportunity to decarbonise the petrochemicals industry,” he tells MEED.

“We also recognise effective ammonia cracking technology is the missing link in the hydrogen value chain. We are working with Saudi Aramco to develop a new process to convert ammonia back to hydrogen efficiently and at scale.

“The technology will be based on Linde Engineering’s steam reformer technology and will incorporate developments from both companies. As part of this collaboration, we will build a demonstration plant in Germany."

The plant will “support market development in Europe for blue and green ammonia”, Van der Velden says, adding: “We have established ourselves a partner for the entire hydrogen value chain, and we are interested in investing in projects in the Mena region.”

Linde Engineering has opened a research and development centre in Saudi Arabia’s Dhahran Techno Valley in collaboration with US oil field services provider SLB. The facility “focuses on aspects of CO2 capture, transportation and storage”, Van der Velden says.

He is also optimistic about opportunities in the blue hydrogen domain. “We are at the beginning of the growth curve and see many opportunities currently being developed in this area. The availability of natural gas at a competitive price, and pore space to safely store CO2 for the long term, make the region an interesting location to establish blue hydrogen projects on very competitive terms.

"Technologies in this area are available and mature, and the market holds promise, as confirmed by the number of projects now under development.”

Regional project involvement

Linde Engineering has a track record of oil and gas project execution in the region, and has participated in several key projects, such as the world's largest CO2 liquefaction plant for Saudi Basic Industries Corporation (Sabic), and the construction and operation of ammonia, hydrogen and CO2 plants for the Sadara petrochemicals complex in Saudi Arabia. The company also provided air separation units to the Pearl gas-to-liquids project in Qatar.

“The first hydrogen refueling station in the region for [Abu Dhabi National Oil Company] Adnoc went into operation a few months ago," adds Van der Velden.

Looking ahead, Linde is one of the partners that Aramco has brought on board for a project to develop a carbon capture and storage (CCS) infrastructure in Saudi Arabia that will tap CO2 discharge from its gas processing plants. The objective of the Accelerated Carbon Capture & Sequestration (ACCS) project is to capture a total of 44 million tonnes a year (t/y) of CO2 from Aramco’s northern gas plants of Wasit, Fadhili and Khursaniyah, as well as from the operations of its subsidiary Sabic and Saudi industrial gases provider Air Products Qudra.

The ACCS project will be developed in phases over several years, with Linde and SLB partnering with Aramco for the first phase, which will have a CCS capacity of 9 million t/y.

“Under the project, the CO2 captured from natural gas processing plants, as well as from hydrogen and ammonia production, will be collected, dried, compressed and sent via pipeline to sequestration sites,” explains Van der Velden. “The project thereby accelerates decarbonisation solutions across the industrial and energy sectors in Saudi Arabia.

“The collaboration [with Aramco] combines decades of experience in CO2 capture and sequestration; innovative technology portfolios; project development and execution expertise; and engineering, procurement and construction (EPC) capabilities,” he adds.

Our goal is to ensure that the GCC has the technology it needs to … decarbonise the petrochemicals industry
John van der Velden, Linde Engineering

Future project investments

Ongoing investment in projects by Mena oil, gas and petrochemicals players leaves the door open for Linde Engineering to showcase its licensed technologies and EPC potential.

“We see increasing investment flowing into upstream projects in the region, many of which provide feedstock for new petrochemicals production and blue ammonia plants,” says Van der Velden. “In most of these new upstream developments – as well as in existing plants – CCUS facilities will be installed to reduce their carbon footprint.”

In the petrochemicals sector, operators plan to build large-scale olefin plants or cracking complexes, “particularly in Saudi Arabia, where the conversion of crude to chemicals will play a key role,” he continues.

“The highest efficiency and lowest emissions possible are now of utmost importance to customers, in line with their carbon emission reduction commitments. In fact, these considerations determine which technology is selected. 

“Linde Engineering is well positioned in this market as a technology-to-EPC provider for net-zero crackers,” Van der Velden notes. “Aside from low-emission crackers, we have established design and execution capabilities for further opportunities and continue to work on innovations for carbon capture technologies.”

https://image.digitalinsightresearch.in/uploads/NewsArticle/11608072/main21453223.jpg
Indrajit Sen

Register for MEED's guest program now to access this article.

Click here to register
Exclusive from Meed
Related Articles
  • Riyadh tenders Quality Valley mixed-use PPP project

    9 July 2026

     

    Saudi Arabia’s State Properties General Authority, in collaboration with the National Centre for Privatisation & PPP, has tendered a contract to transform the Saudi Standards, Metrology & Quality Organisation's headquarters site in Riyadh’s Al-Muhammadiyah area into a mixed-use district.

    The firms have been allowed until 8 October to submit their proposals.

    Known as the Quality Valley Riyadh project, the public-private partnership (PPP) scheme will be developed on a design, build, finance, operate, maintain and transfer basis.

    In May, MEED reported that 59 firms had expressed interest in the contract to develop the project.

    Unless otherwise stated, the interested companies are local. They now include:

    Developers / real estate developers:

    • Abdulrahman Saad Alrashid & Sons (Artar)
    • Ajdan Real Estate Development Company
    • AlBawani
    • Al-Gihaz Holding
    • Al-Ayuni Investment & Contracting
    • Alameriah Development
    • Alargan Projects Company
    • Al-Fahd Company
    • Alkhorayef Investment & Development
    • Al-Soliman Real Estate
    • Al-Saedan Real Estate
    • Asyad Holding Company
    • Arabian Construction Company (UAE)
    • Business Deal Company
    • Ezdihar Real Estate Company
    • Hay Developments
    • Heyazah Real Estate Development
    • Kinan International 
    • Ladun Investment Company
    • Lamar Holding (Bahrain)
    • Ledar Investment
    • Liwan Real Estate Development
    • Mada International
    • Naif Alrajhi Investment
    • Pan Kingdom Real Estate
    • Refad Investment & Real Estate Development
    • Retal Urban Development Company
    • Al-Mozaini Real Estate
    • Safari Group
    • SkyBridge (US)
    • Sumou Real Estate
    • Tatweer
    • Technical Development Company
    • Telad Real Estate
    • Zamil Group
    • Zeoof Real Estate Investment & Development

    Contractors:

    • Al-Kifah Holding Company
    • BEC Arabia
    • Buna Al-Khaleej Contracting Company
    • Saudi Binladin Group
    • Fanar Arabian International
    • International Hospitals Construction Company
    • Mohammed Ali Al-Swailem Trading & Contracting (Masco)
    • Mobco Civil Construction
    • Shar Company
    • Shibh Al-Jazira Contracting Company
    • Urbas Middle East (Spain)

    Consultants:

    • Alteraz Design Architectural & Engineering Consultant
    • Dar Al-Riyadh
    • Meinhardt Group (Singapore)
    • Equity Investors
    • Ahmed Al-Thunayan Investment Group
    • Aldrees Industrial and Trading Company
    • Tanami Holding
    • Own United
    • SAH First Investment Company  
    • ​Sumou Global Investment / Poly Manners Architecture
    • Financial Services Providers​​
    • GIB Capital
    • Mefic Capital
    • SNB Capital

    The project comprises commercial offices, a four-star hotel and retail facilities. The contract term is 32 years, in addition to a three-year construction period. The site covers about 191,000 square metres.

    UK-based PricewaterhouseCoopers, US-based engineering firm Jacobs and Saudi Arabia’s Al-Nowaisser & Al-Suwaylimi are advising on the project.

    READ THE JULY 2026 MEED BUSINESS REVIEW – click here to view PDF

    Stress test for Gulf aviation; Mixed performance as country outlooks diverge in the Levant; GCC tourism sector pivots from crisis to recovery mode.

    Distributed to senior decision-makers in the region and around the world, the July 2026 edition of MEED Business Review includes:
    To see previous issues of MEED Business Review, please click here
    https://image.digitalinsightresearch.in/uploads/NewsArticle/17603519/main.jpg
    Yasir Iqbal
  • Egypt gold project to start commercial production next year

    9 July 2026

    Egypt’s Abu Marawat gold project is on track to begin commercial production in 2027, according to a statement by the North African country’s Petroleum & Mineral Resources Ministry.

    This target was highlighted during a meeting with Abu Marawat Gold Mines Company to review and discuss the Environmental and Social Impact Assessment study for the gold mining and extraction project in the Abu Marwat area of ​​the Eastern Desert.

    Abu Marawat Gold Mines Company is the Egyptian joint-venture company set up to develop and run the Abu Marawat gold project.

    It is owned by Canada’s Aton Resources and Egypt’s Mineral Resources & Mining Industries Authority (MRMIA).

    During the meeting, Yasser Ramadan, chairman of the MRMIA, said that the Marawat project serves as a practical model for the Petroleum & Mineral Resources Ministry’s strategy to establish modern mining operations.

    The Abu Marwat project is located in the Arabian-Nubian Shield region of the Eastern Desert.

    The concession covers an area of more than 57 square kilometres.

    Aton Resources has been advancing the exploration and development of the Abu Marawat concession since its award in 2007, with active exploration starting on the ground in 2009.

    The meeting with Abu Marawat Gold Mines Company was attended by executives from the Petroleum & Mineral Resources Ministry, the MRMIA and the Egyptian Environmental Affairs Agency, as well as representatives from the Red Sea and Qena governorates, members of the House of Representatives and local community leaders.

    READ THE JULY 2026 MEED BUSINESS REVIEW – click here to view PDF

    Stress test for Gulf aviation; Mixed performance as country outlooks diverge in the Levant; GCC tourism sector pivots from crisis to recovery mode.

    Distributed to senior decision-makers in the region and around the world, the July 2026 edition of MEED Business Review includes:
    To see previous issues of MEED Business Review, please click here
    https://image.digitalinsightresearch.in/uploads/NewsArticle/17603106/main.jpg
    Wil Crisp
  • Firms submit King Salman airport project prequalifications

    8 July 2026

     

    Register for MEED’s 14-day trial access 

    Saudi Arabia’s King Salman International Airport Development Company (KSIADC) received prequalification statements on 1 July from contractors for two new packages at King Salman International airport (KSIA) in Riyadh.

    These include the construction of a permanent East-West corridor and landside access roads serving the North and South terminals.

    The scope covers the construction of roads, bridges and tunnels.

    The client is expected to float the tenders soon.

    The latest development follows KSIADC's selection of three groups to deliver the Terminal 6 apron, taxiways and other airfield infrastructure at KSIA.

    KSIADC, which is backed by Saudi sovereign wealth vehicle the Public Investment Fund, will initially deliver the project on an early contractor involvement basis.

    In March, MEED exclusively reported that KSIADC had selected three groups for the construction of Terminal 6.

    In November last year, MEED reported that KSIADC was targeting mid-2026 to award the contract for the construction of Terminal 6.

    MEED reported in May 2025 that US firm Bechtel Corporation had been appointed as the delivery partner for the terminals at KSIA.

    According to local media reports, KSIADC’s acting CEO, Marco Mejia, said the project developer has completed the project’s masterplan.

    The reports added that Terminal 6 will boost the airport’s capacity by 40 million passengers.

    The project is expected to be delivered before the start of Expo 2030 Riyadh.

    https://image.digitalinsightresearch.in/uploads/NewsArticle/17588533/main.jpg
    Yasir Iqbal
  • WEBINAR: Saudi Giga Projects: Market Update for Q3 2026

    8 July 2026

    Webinar: Saudi Giga Projects: Market Update for Q3 2026 
    Tuesday 21 July 2026 | 11:00 AM GST  |  Register now

    Agenda:

    • Saudi projects market outlook and giga projects update
    • 2026 contract awards, project activity and market performance
    • Giga project reprioritisation, funding allocation and delivery progress
    • Key project announcements, milestones and market developments to watch
    • Major contracts awarded across construction, infrastructure and utilities
    • Upcoming tenders and contract award opportunities over the next 6–12 months
    • Geopolitical risks and their impact on project execution and investment
    • Progress across NEOM, The Red Sea, Diriyah, Qiddiya and New Murabba
    • Major non-giga project opportunities and growth sectors across Saudi Arabia
    • Short-, medium- and long-term outlook for the Saudi projects market
    • Audience Q&A

    Hosted by: Yasir Iqbal, MEED's construction editor

    Click here to register

    https://image.digitalinsightresearch.in/uploads/NewsArticle/17588750/main.jpg
    Yasir Iqbal
  • Genel Energy buys Egypt-focused oil company for $360m

    8 July 2026

    Register for MEED’s 14-day trial access 

    UK-listed Genel Energy has agreed to acquire Egypt-focused Capricorn Energy in a $360m all-cash deal.

    Genel said the acquisition will combine its Kurdistan production base with Capricorn’s portfolio of Egyptian oil and gas assets.

    The company also said the deal will allow it to obtain production in a country with a “well-established regulatory regime, stable contracts and attractive fiscal terms”.

    Several approvals are still required before the acquisition can be finalised.

    In a statement, Genel said: “Genel’s strategy is to build a business with resilient diversified cash flows that deliver sustainable value to shareholders.

    “The Genel board and Genel management are resolute in their belief that this can best be achieved through strategic acquisitions, which add substantial high-quality producing assets to its existing portfolio.”

    Genel’s existing oil and gas assets include its 25% non-operated working interest in the Tawke PSC in the Kurdistan Region of Iraq.

    The company said this asset generated working interest production averaging 17,520 barrels a day (b/d) of oil in 2025 and had operating costs of around $4 a barrel.

    The combined group is expected to hold reserves of 117 million barrels of oil equivalent and production of 41,003 b/d.

    Capricorn is headquartered in Edinburgh and has been listed on the London Stock Exchange for more than 30 years.

    Its core operations are in Egypt’s Western Desert region, where it holds onshore development and production assets.

    In May 2025, Capricorn agreed with Egyptian General Petroleum Corporation to consolidate eight of its 50:50 jointly owned concessions into a single integrated licence with enhanced commercial terms. Capricorn announced in March 2026 that it had received formal parliamentary ratification of the agreement.

    The deal has been announced at a time when Genel is seeing frequent disruption to operations at its assets in Iraqi Kurdistan.

    Production was temporarily suspended at the Tawke field in February after the US and Israel attacked Iran, increasing security concerns in the wider region.

    While the security situation is understood to have improved in the Iraqi Kurdistan region and many oil companies have resumed operations, there are now concerns that the Iraq-Turkiye Pipeline could be shut due to an agreement between the two countries expiring later this month.

    If the pipeline does stop operations, it will negatively impact Genel as it is the main route through which the company’s Iraqi oil is exported.

    https://image.digitalinsightresearch.in/uploads/NewsArticle/17587599/main.jpg
    Wil Crisp