Riyadh: NEOM Green Hydrogen Co. (NGHC), a key component of Saudi Arabia's futuristic city NEOM, is not merely constructing the world's largest green hydrogen production facility. Instead, it is laying the foundation for a transformative clean energy sector, aiming for global leadership.

Wesam Al-Ghamdi, CEO of NGHC, emphasized the project's broader objectives during an interview with Arab News on the sidelines of the Saudi Green Initiative Forum. He highlighted the project's alignment with Saudi Vision 2030 and the nation's ambitious decarbonization and economic diversification goals.

"When we reach full production in December 2026, the 1.2 million tonnes of ammonia we'll be producing will be equivalent to decarbonizing 22,000 heavy trucks, saving up to 5 million tonnes of carbon emissions," Al-Ghamdi said. "But beyond that, we're building the hydrogen industry in Saudi Arabia, fostering skill sets and know-how within the Kingdom."

The plant, powered entirely by renewable solar and wind energy, will feature a 2.2-gigawatt electrolyzer for continuous hydrogen production. Construction is well underway, with over 60% of key infrastructure, including the hydrogen processing plant, solar facility, and wind farm, already completed.

"We've successfully installed every major piece of equipment, from electrolyzers and hydrogen storage systems to ammonia tanks," Al-Ghamdi revealed.

NGHC is also investing in human capital development by recruiting skilled professionals and partnering with educational institutions to build a strong local talent pool. The company is establishing a Hydrogen Innovation Development Center to refine processes, train engineers, and test electrolyzer technology.

Strategic partnerships with global leaders like Thyssenkrupp, Baker Hughes, Envision, and Topsoe are crucial to the project's success. A 30-year offtake agreement with Air Products ensures the plant's hydrogen output, converted into ammonia, can be distributed to international markets, meeting the growing global demand for clean energy solutions.

Al-Ghamdi underscored the project's transformative impact, stating, "Our existence itself is the answer. By building hydrogen production at an unprecedented scale, we're setting a blueprint for the world to follow and meet the global demand for hydrogen."