Saudi Arabia commits to hydrogen ‘new future’

The Opec kingpin is keen to extend its oil export prowess by leveraging the world’s cheapest solar to produce green hydrogen

Saudi Arabia is best-known for its prowess in oil production and role as the de facto leader of the Opec cartel. However, as has been highly publicised over the past few years, with the ambitious but controversial Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman shaping the kingdom’s future, things are changing. Indeed, while surprise and considerable scepticism met the 2016 launch of Vision 2030—which professed that Saudi would diversify its economy to reduce dependence on oil while developing the health, education, infrastructure, recreation and tourism sectors—real progress is being seen on the ground. This has come in the form of a wide variety of social, commercial and industrial initiatives that have