The facility will utilise KBR's leading ammonia synthesis loop technology to deliver cost-competitive and low-carbon intensity ammonia. (Image source: KBR)

KBR has announced that its blue ammonia technology has been selected by Shell for its Blue Horizons low-carbon hydrogen and ammonia project in Duqm, Oman

The facility will utilise KBR's leading ammonia synthesis loop technology to deliver cost-competitive and low-carbon intensity ammonia. KBR will provide licensed proprietary engineering design for the 3,000 metric tons per day ammonia plant utilising hydrogen produced by Shell's Blue Hydrogen technology.

"We are excited to work with Shell on this breakthrough project in Oman and contribute towards achieving Oman's Vision 2040 targets," said Jay Ibrahim, president, KBR Sustainable Technology Solutions. "Our blue ammonia technology allows our clients to implement their energy transition projects with a cost-competitive solution at the lowest carbon intensity."

KOC contract

This news follows KBR’s earlier announcement that it has been awarded an advisory consulting contract by Kuwait Oil Company for the development of a country wide masterplan for the production of 17GW of renewables and 25GW of green hydrogen by 2050. KBR will provide advisory consulting services to develop a phased strategy for the deployment of wind and solar power, combined with power storage capability. The renewable power capability will be linked to the production of green hydrogen for internal industrial use, as well as for export purposes.

Distress calls dropped by 7.6% in 2023. (Image source: Inmarsat)

The 2024 edition of The Future of Maritime Safety Report from Inmarsat Maritime calls for the maritime industry to embrace data sharing and collaborative problem-solving as the industry navigates significant changes, such as the transition to greener propulsion technologies

The report recommends that the shipping industry establishes a list of standard data points to monitor and report, including casualties and incidents, injuries or deaths at sea, and near misses. It also endorses trend analysis to support the development of safety measures, with a particular emphasis on developing risk treatments for well-known and recurring issues.

The report reveals that Global Maritime Distress and Safety System (GMDSS) distress calls decreased by 7.6% in 2023 over the previous year. Despite this decline, the service was still triggered on 788 occasions, underlining the ongoing challenges in maritime safety and the need for improvements. It highlights the emergence of potential new safety risks associated with future fuels, and escalating geopolitical tensions.

Identifying trends

Peter Broadhurst, senior vice president, Safety and Regulatory, Inmarsat Maritime, said, “By harnessing the power of anonymised safety data, we can identify trends, develop specific mitigation measures, and enhance the overall safety of our ships and crews."

He noted that modern technology offers unprecedented opportunities to improve safety through better data analysis and sharing.

“We collect vast amounts of safety data, yet the current siloed-working model hinders our ability to fully leverage the actionable insights available to us. By pooling data, we can create a more holistic and objective view of maritime safety to inform performance improvements and ultimately reduce the occurrence of preventable safety incidents to save lives at sea.”

These pipes range in diameter from 100 mm to 300 mm. (Image source: Canva)

The Sharjah Electricity, Water and Gas Authority (Sewa) has declared that the northern emirate's Al Haray's commercial and industrial districts will soon have access to electricity.

Following the strictest safety and security guidelines, the first phase aims to establish 12 sub-distribution stations with a voltage of 11 kV and a length of 12 km. The total cost of these stations is US$5.1mn. 

Sewa emphasised that it was still committed to supply the Al Haray development with clean, safe water.

It said that the installation of the main water lines and pipelines has already started.

These pipes range in diameter from 100 mm to 300 mm and are composed of Glass Reinforced Epoxy (GRE) material. To serve all users in the industrial and commercial sections of Al Haray, the pipes will have a total length of 30,000 linear metres.

Saud Abdulaziz, the director of the Khorfakkan Department at Sewa, said it was giving power connection in both industrial and commercial areas of Al Haray.

The implementation of the commercial area link will cost AED 7 million, while the industrial area connection would cost more than AED 12 million.

It also stated that these activities will not stop until a permanent 33 kV main distribution station is built in order to completely power the region.

The opening of the new facility. (Image source: Honeywell)

Honeywell has opened its first assembly line dedicated to fire alarm and building management solutions in Saudi Arabia, in line with its strategy to increase localisation in the Kingdom in focus areas

The new facility in Dhahran will provide local and regional markets with Saudi-made products that meet the highest local and international industry standards and will boost the company’s building automation capabilities in the region. It will streamline the delivery process of world-class building automation and critical safety technologies, enabling faster and more efficient distribution of products to customers.

“Around the world, and especially within this region, we are seeing clear alignment between national visions and goals and the need for safer, efficient, smart and sustainable infrastructure,” said Phil Daniell, VP and GM of Honeywell - Business Automation in Middle East, Turkey and Africa. “Urban populations are increasing, and through automation technologies we are able to help cater to this expanded need while helping to tackle carbon emissions and driving efficiency through smarter and safer technology.”

Abdullah Al-Juffali, Honeywell country president of Saudi Arabia and Bahrain, added, “This new facility not only enhances our capability to serve our customers with locally manufactured solutions, but also solidifies our commitment to contributing to the Kingdom’s industrial and technological advancements."