Reflections on World Energy Day-22 October
The Middle East, long recognised for its leadership in oil and gas, is now rapidly emerging as a global hub for innovation in energy, sustainability, and technology. At John Crane, we are proud to support this transformation across critical sectors, including oil & gas mining, chemicals and the hydrogen economy, writes Amjad Al Qaqa’a, Vice President, Middle East and Africa, John Crane.
World Energy Day is more than a date on the calendar–it is a call to reflect on how energy powers progress and shapes our shared future. Observed each year on 22 October, we are reminded of the vital role energy plays in shaping our societies, economies, and environment.
Our region’s sustainability journey is anchored by bold national strategies such as Saudi Vision 2030, the Saudi Green Initiative and the UAE Energy Strategy 2050. John Crane is aligning its local operations to support these ambitions, helping drive progress toward a net-zero future.
Accelerating the shift to green energy
While oil and gas will remain a significant part of the world’s energy mix for years to come, the focus is shifting towards maximising efficiency and minimising environmental impact. Through advanced sealing technologies, digital monitoring, and predictive maintenance, John Crane is helping reduce emissions, conserve resources, and extend asset lifecycles, enhancing both sustainability and operational reliability.
The Middle East is also investing heavily in solar, wind and green hydrogen, positioning itself as a leader in the global energy transition. Countries like the UAE, Saudi Arabia, and Oman are emerging as global leaders in green hydrogen production, leveraging renewable energy for industrial decarbonisation and export.
John Crane is at the forefront, providing critical solutions for safe and efficient transport, storage, and processing of hydrogen and other clean fuels. Our engineered solutions, mechanical seals, filtration systems, and couplings are mission-critical for hydrogen production (electrolysis), compression, and transport.
We are proud to act as a key enabler for the region’s ambitious hydrogen projects, including participation in one of the world’s largest green hydrogen and ammonia plants in Saudi Arabia (NEOM)–a flagship smart city and clean-energy development located on the Red Sea, designed to un entirely on renewable power as part of Saudi Vision 2030.
Innovation for impact
John Crane continually invests in new technologies to help our customers meet evolving energy and sustainability targets. Our commitment to innovation is exemplified by the recent launch of the Type 93AX Coaxial Separation Seal, engineered to reduce nitrogen consumption by up to 80%.
This delivers a significant leap in operational efficiency and emissions reduction. Its robust, fail-safe design ensures reliable operation even in demanding scenarios, helping customers minimise unplanned downtime and environmental impact.
Our advanced dry gas seal technology minimises fugitive emissions, including methane, and has significantly reduced emissions at pipeline stations in the Middle East. Solutions such as Wet-to-Dry Gas Seal Retrofits and Upstream Pumping (USP) technology improve equipment reliability, reduce energy and water consumption, and align with regional efficiency goals.
Local engineering teams
Behind these innovations are our local engineering and service teams, who work side by side with customers across the Middle East to keep essential industries running safely, efficiently and sustainably.
Our filtration systems protect sensitive fuel cells and electrolyser stacks from contamination, while our seals reduce leakages from compressors and pumps, improving overall process and efficiency.
Sustainability & Innovation in the MEA Region
Sustainability and innovation are central to John Crane’s mission, with advanced sealing solutions that reduce emissions and improve energy efficiency. Our New Energy Solutions team accelerates the energy transition through initiatives in hydrogen, carbon capture, and digitalisation.
Predictive maintenance tools, such as John Crane Sense® Turbo and Sense Monitor, enable customers to optimise operations and reduce environmental impact. The MEA region is seeing increased investment in hydrogen, carbon capture, and renewable energy projects, driven by sustainability commitments.
Decarbonisation & Asset Integrity
John Crane partners across both conventional and new value chains to decarbonise existing assets and develop new low-carbon energy infrastructure. Our mission is to minimise leakages and emissions while maximising reliability and safety, always considering total cost of ownership at both application and asset levels.
Our portfolio includes gas and wet seals, support systems, advanced filtration, couplings, retrofit services, and asset management programmes—all contributing to emissions reduction and extended equipment life.
Carbon Capture, Utilisation, and Storage (CCUS)
CCUS captures carbon dioxide emissions from major sources, storing them underground or repurposing for industrial use, reducing greenhouse gases and creating economic opportunities. CCUS is gaining commercial traction due to the global energy transition and is vital for decarbonising hard-to-abate sectors like steel, cement, chemicals, and heavy transport.
According to the Internation Energy Agency (IEA), CCUS could contribute around 13% of total cumulative emissions reduction needed to reach Net-Zero by 2050. Regulatory frameworks, such as the EU Net-Zero Industry Act (2024), support CCUS development by mandating storage targets for oil and gas companies.
Collaboration for a sustainable future
World Energy Day is a reminder that no single organisation can achieve a sustainable energy future alone. It requires collaboration across industries, governments, and communities. At John Crane, we believe in fostering partnerships that drive innovation, share knowledge, and deliver tangible results.
As the Middle East cements its position as a global leader in industrial climate action and innovation, John Crane is proud to stand alongside our partners, powering the region’s journey toward a sustainable, net-zero future.
On World Energy Day, we reaffirm our commitment to engineering the solutions and services that will shape tomorrow’s energy and process industries, driving progress toward a cleaner, more resilient future for all. Together, we can engineer a sustainable world that keeps progress moving.
