ADNOC Gas, the liquefied natural gas (LNG) business of ADNOC Group, has teamed up with Baker Hughes to install Levidian’s LOOP technology at the Habshan Gas Processing Plant, marking the first deployment of the technology at an operational gas processing site.

The innovative technology will capture carbon from methane, the main constituent of natural gas, and transform it into graphene and hydrogen.

“The LOOP unit is capable of producing more than 1 tonne per annum (tpa) of graphene and one tpa of hydrogen, making it a dual-purpose innovation aligned with global energy transition goals,” ADNOC Gas said in a statement.

Data collected during the pilot project will be used to refine the ongoing development of AI modelling and digital twins to minimise energy consumption and maximise graphene output from future installations. ADNOC Gas forecasted that future industrial-scale installations will deliver 15 tpa.

“The deployment of LOOP technology is a significant milestone for ADNOC Gas. By transforming methane into valuable graphene and clean hydrogen, we are unlocking new value from natural gas, driving decarbonisation and supporting the UAE’s industrial growth and climate ambitions,” said Mohamed Al Hashemi, chief operations officer of ADNOC Gas.

The company’s technology team will evaluate and use the graphene produced at the Habshan complex to explore possible applications.

Graphene has the potential to be used across industries, from enhancing the performance of electric vehicle batteries and solar panels to creating stronger, more durable materials such as concrete, tyres, and polymer pipes.

ADNOC Gas recently awarded three contracts worth about $2.1bn for an LNG pre-conditioning plant (LPP), compression facilities and transmission pipelines to supply feedstock to the Ruwais LNG Project.

The contracts are part of the $15bn CAPEX that ADNOC Gas plans to invest through 2029.

The Ruwais LNG plant will more than double ADNOC’s current 6 mtpa LNG capacity to over 15 mtpa. It will leverage artificial intelligence (AI) and other innovative technologies to enhance safety, minimise emissions, and drive efficiency.

The facility, currently under development in Abu Dhabi, will be the first LNG export facility in the Middle East and North Africa region to run on clean power. When completed, it is expected to consist of two 4.8 million mtpa LNG liquefaction trains with a total capacity of 9.6 mtpa.

Meanwhile, ADNOC’s board of directors increased the company’s budget allocation for decarbonisation projects, technologies and lower-carbon solutions to a record $23bn (Dhs84.4bn), up from $15bn in January 2024.

The state-owned energy giant accelerated its decarbonisation strategy in July 2023, advancing its net zero carbon emissions target by five years to 2045 and aiming to achieve zero methane emissions by 2030.

Read: ADNOC Gas invests $2.1bn to advance LNG supply infrastructure

Arab Health 2025, the Middle East’s largest healthcare event, is set to welcome a record-breaking international presence as the global healthcare market continues its rapid expansion.

According to Verified Market Research, the consumer healthcare market is projected to reach $780bn by 2030, up from $360bn in 2023, reflecting an 8.8 per cent compound annual growth rate (CAGR).

Amid this backdrop of a growing market, Arab Health will mark its 50th anniversary and feature over 40 country pavilions, with Morocco and Latvia making their debut. A total of 180 countries are expected to participate, reinforcing Dubai’s role as a key hub for international healthcare collaboration.

“In the last five decades, Arab Health has grown alongside the incredible expansion of the global healthcare market, evolving from a regional exhibition to a pivotal event on the international stage,” said Ross Williams, group event director at Informa Markets.

“With the anticipated market growth, Arab Health, more than ever, has an integral role in facilitating global business and addressing the latest healthcare trends worldwide,” he added.

The UK and Saudi Arabia will significantly expand their presence this year, alongside major country pavilions from the United States, China, India, Singapore, and Taiwan.

Arab Health 2025 will also welcome first-time international exhibitors, including Daigo, Fapomed, Global Medical Technology, Global Pharma Healthcare, Levity Products, and Mark Ortho Care, all of whom will showcase their innovations in the newly introduced Al Mustaqbal Hall exhibitor zone.

Driving Healthcare Innovation

The Arab Health Congress, held under the patronage of the UAE Ministry of Health and Prevention, will feature nine Continuing Medical Education (CME) conferences and three Healthcare Business Forums, bringing together over 250 international experts who will lead more than 110 sessions across four days.

Key features of the 50th edition include:

• The debut of the World of Wellness and the Healthcare ESG Conferences – Addressing sustainability and wellness trends in healthcare.
• The Smart Hospital & Interoperability Zone, powered by Cityscape – An immersive showcase of the future of healthcare technology.
• The Transformation Zone – Featuring product showcases, expert talks, and the popular Innov8 Start-up competition.
• The Future Health Summit – Bringing together global experts to discuss AI in action: Transforming Healthcare Delivery.

Long-term industry presence

The Association of British HealthTech Industries (ABHI), which has attended Arab Health for over 20 years, will once again lead a UK delegation comprising healthtech businesses, hospital groups, regional accelerators, government partners, and healthcare leaders.

Michelle Michelucci, head of international events at ABHI, said: “ABHI runs a portfolio of UK Pavilions at over 15 key global trade shows, but none match the scale and significance of Arab Health.”

“During our 20-year tenure at Arab Health, we’ve witnessed a significant evolution in the healthcare industry, driven by technological integration and international collaboration fostered at the event. The UAE and the wider Middle East region have grown significantly, with the healthcare sector expanding to meet the demands of a burgeoning population and increasing healthcare needs,” said Michelucci.

Backed by key government, industry leaders

Arab Health 2025 is supported by the UAE Ministry of Health and Prevention, Dubai Health Authority, the Department of Health – Abu Dhabi, and Dubai Healthcare City Authority, reinforcing its role as the region’s most influential healthcare platform.

The event takes place from 27 – 30 January 2025 at the Dubai World Trade Centre. For more information and registration, visit www.arabhealthonline.com.

Aramco and Ma’aden have agreed to set up a joint venture for mineral exploration and mining in Saudi Arabia.

The venture will focus on energy transition minerals, including extracting lithium from high-concentration deposits and advancing cost-effective direct lithium extraction technologies, as the kingdom pursues a bigger role in mining. Lithium is a key component in the batteries of electric cars, laptops, and smartphones.

The total global demand for lithium has tripled over the past five years, and its compound annual growth rate is anticipated to exceed 15 per cent per annum through 2035. Aramco said lithium demand in Saudi Arabia is expected to grow twenty-fold between 2024 and 2030, contributing to an estimated 500,000 electric vehicle batteries and 110 gigawatts of renewables.

“Aramco has identified several areas with a high lithium concentration of up to 400 parts per million,” the state-owned energy giant said in a statement while noting that commercial lithium production is expected to commence by 2027.

“The proposed JV will enable extraction of energy transition minerals, contributing meaningfully to the growth of more sustainable energy solutions while diversifying our portfolio for a lower-carbon future,” said Nasir K. Al-Naimi, Aramco Upstream President.

Al-Naimi emphasised that the venture will leverage Aramco’s upstream expertise, including cost-effectiveness, technological innovation and extensive subsurface knowledge, to meet the kingdom’s and potentially global lithium demand.

Bandar Alkhorayef, Saudi Arabia’s Minister of Industry and Mineral Resources, also said that Aramco is partnering with King Abdullah University for Science and Technology (KAUST) to pilot the lithium mining project.

Lithium Infinity, also known as Lihytech, a startup launched out of KAUST, is leading the extraction project in partnership with Ma’aden and Aramco.

Meanwhile, Ma’aden agreed to acquire SABIC’s 20.62 per cent stake in Aluminium Bahrain (Alba) as part of Saudi Arabia’s broader strategy to accelerate the expansion of its metals and mining industry under Vision 2030. The sale proceeds are expected to be between $963.25m-$1.06bn (BHD363m-398m).

Read: Saudi Ma’aden to buy nearly 21% stake in Bahrain’s Alba for $1bn

Kenya has started discussions with the UAE to secure financing to complete a regional railway, President William Ruto said after China cut infrastructure funding to the project.

The railway connecting the Kenyan port of Mombasa with landlocked neighbours, as part of China’s Belt and Road Initiative, ended in the Rift Valley in 2019, 468 kilometres short of the border with Uganda, after Beijing withdrew support.

“We are exploring a partnership agreement with the UAE to extend the Standard Gauge Railway to connect Kenya, Uganda and South Sudan,” Ruto said on X late on Tuesday after meeting UAE officials in Abu Dhabi.

Both sides will carry out a feasibility study on the extension of the railway, he said, “due to its capacity to foster regional integration and promote trade”.

Ruto’s office did not respond to Reuters’ request for more details.

Ruto, who took over in September 2022, has pursued closer ties with the UAE, and Kenya is also finalising a $1.5bn commercial loan from the UAE for budget support.

The East African nation and the UAE signed a comprehensive economic partnership agreement on Tuesday, aiming to boost trade volumes by removing barriers, simplifying customs processes and promoting investments.

“Kenya is going to be a gateway for sure for East Africa,” Thani Al Zeyoudi, the UAE’s minister of trade, told Reuters on Tuesday.

Trade between Kenya and the UAE has more than doubled over the last decade, Ruto’s office said. The UAE is the sixth biggest export market for Kenyan goods and its second biggest source of imports.

The value of the trade stood at $3.44bn (KSH445bn) in 2023, with the UAE buying agricultural products while Kenya gets petroleum products, machinery and chemicals.

The UAE’s ADNOC and Emirates National Oil Company were among three Gulf firms Ruto’s government picked in 2023 to supply Kenya with oil on longer credit terms, in a shift from an open tender system.

Read: Kenya in talks for a $1.5bn commercial loan with UAE

The pace of technological innovations in the last decade has seen the game-changing impact of artificial intelligence (AI) and machine learning (ML) permeate all aspects of our daily lives.

This democratisation of AI in an ever-growing digital economy has also led to explosive growth in the data centre industry as the demand for cloud services and the expanding use of web-enabled devices globally are spiralling upward.

The growing need for more and larger energy-intensive data centres brings with it an exponential growth in power requirements. A 2024 report by the International Energy Agency (IEA) estimates that data centres have the potential to double their energy usage by 2026. These critical infrastructures are an important new factor of higher electricity consumption, and this accelerated demand is expected to reach more than 1,000 terawatt-hours (TWh) — roughly equivalent to the entire electricity consumption of Japan.

Data centres today consume around 1.5 per cent of the world’s electricity, which accounts for around 1 per cent of energy-related greenhouse gas emissions.

Electricity demand in data centres primarily comes from two key processes. Computing activities account for around 40 per cent of the total energy consumption, while cooling systems that are essential for maintaining stable processing efficiency, contribute another 40 per cent. The remaining 20 per cent is used by other associated IT equipment.

As of March 2024, there are more than 10,000 data centres globally. As new facilities are commissioned, growth will be driven by increased adoption of 5G networks and cloud-based services. The rapid growth of AI-related services in the past year alone and the race to build more powerful generative AI models have significantly escalated usage, as the latest chatbots and AI models are computationally intensive.

On average, a ChatGPT query needs nearly 10 times as much electricity to process as a Google search. New AI capabilities like audio and video generation are expected to further increase energy demand.

Growing energy needs of data centres

This growing appetite for power imposes an increased challenge on utilities and the energy sources they manage. They see this as a challenge to their climate pledges (when faced with the challenge of expanding operations and accessing more power while remaining sustainable and reducing their carbon footprint).

To meet the growing energy needs of both data centres and traditional businesses and industries while maintaining the agreed pathways to net zero for their respective country, utilities have been moving from carbon-intensive conventional sources such as coal and liquid fuels to lower carbon power generation such as natural gas — ideally with hydrogen capabilities — and nuclear, and deploying cutting-edge renewables and energy storage technologies, especially battery energy storage systems (BESS), known for its capability to provide short-term storage.

While these technologies are engineered to mitigate the carbon footprint and address the power density challenges significantly, an often-overlooked aspect is that of AI’s ‘water footprint’. For instance, even a short conversation comprising roughly 20 to 50 questions and responses with ChatGPT requires 500ml of water to cool down the servers. This amount could vary depending on the type of power plant and the region, as water usage is influenced by local weather conditions and the cooling technology employed.

This significant water demand is driven by the cooling processes of both power generation and data centre operations. To offset the intense heat generated, most data centres are air-cooled in a process known as swamp cooling, which uses large amounts of water to reduce the temperature of the surrounding air.

Data centres are therefore turning to novel techniques such as liquid cooling which chills the equipment directly, and immersion cooling, a new liquid bath technique where servers are submerged into tubs of coolant to improve their performance and energy efficiency while reducing water usage. Rear-door heat exchangers, on the other hand, encourage better running conditions in dense server environments.

Energy efficiency and greenhouse gas emissions have become mainstream in the sustainability strategies of data centres, but to truly build toward sustainability, water must be part of the equation too, especially as a mid-sized centre in the US uses about 300,000 gallons of water a day, equal to the water consumption of 100,000 homes.

In 2027, the accelerated global AI demand is expected to account for 4.2 to 6.6 billion cubic metres of water withdrawal.

Solving the ‘trilemma’

Solving the power, carbon, and cooling trilemma in data centres will be key going forward, as providers work towards fulfilling the demand reliably and more sustainably. A promising, more modern and sustainable technology to power even the largest data centres with a significantly smaller carbon footprint than reciprocating engines, all the while complementing renewables, are aero-derivative gas turbines, like GE Vernova’s LM series technology, and even heavy-duty gas turbines like GE Vernova’s H-Class. Their fuel diversity attribute allows these turbines to run on various alternate fuel sources, including hydrogen, blends of natural gas, and associated gas, supporting data centres on their sustainability journey, including the path towards net zero carbon emissions and low water consumption.

In addition to advanced power generation, grid technology also plays a critical role in ensuring the reliability of power supply in data centres, which is crucial for their continuous operation. By integrating advanced grid systems, data centres can maintain a stable and uninterrupted power flow, even in the face of fluctuations or disruptions in energy supply. This reliability is vital for preventing downtime and data loss, which can have significant financial and operational consequences.

Furthermore, grid technology can enable seamless integration with BESS and renewables, supporting the decarbonisation efforts.

The sustainability challenges associated with data centres will have implications in the Gulf countries too with the UAE and Saudi Arabia on their path to becoming regional AI superpowers. With a 15.3 per cent increase in live IT capacity, reaching 235.3 MW, the UAE is the top data centre hub in the Middle East and North Africa (MENA) while Saudi Arabia’s 29.7 per cent rise in live IT capacity (109MW) positions the kingdom as the fastest-growing data centre market in the region.

The future of data centres is inextricably linked to the future of energy, and in a water-scarce region like the Middle East, there is a greater urgency to shape a more sustainable digital landscape by integrating sustainable practices into data centre operations.

Prioritising modular and energy-efficient principles, and improving resource utilisation through zero water cooling, recycling, and low-carbon energy sources will power the growth of data centres in a way that aligns with national and global sustainability goals.

The writer is the CTO of EMEA, Gas Power, GE Vernova.

GE Vernova has recently published a whitepaper focused on data centres, that can be downloaded here.