Italy’s Saipem wins $4 billion contract from QatarEnergy

Italy’s Saipem wins $4 billion contract from QatarEnergy
The crane vessel Saipem 7000 arrives at the port of Rotterdam in the Netherlands. File/Shutterstock
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Updated 16 September 2024
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Italy’s Saipem wins $4 billion contract from QatarEnergy

Italy’s Saipem wins $4 billion contract from QatarEnergy
  • Contract will help boost production at QatarEnergy’s North Field offshore natural gas field

DOHA: Italian energy engineering group Saipem said on Sunday it had won an offshore contract worth $4 billion from QatarEnergy, one of the world’s top suppliers of liquefied natural gas.
The contract will help boost production at QatarEnergy’s North Field offshore natural gas field, which lies off the northeastern coast of Qatar, Saipem added in a statement.
Earlier this year, Qatar announced an expansion project to boost the North Field’s LNG output to 142 million tons per annum (mtpa) from the current 77 mtpa by 2030.
The Italian group said this month it had won two offshore contracts in Saudi Arabia worth about $1 billion in total, under an existing long-term agreement with oil giant Saudi Aramco.


Oil Updates – prices rise on optimism over solid US fuel demand

Oil Updates – prices rise on optimism over solid US fuel demand
Updated 10 sec ago
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Oil Updates – prices rise on optimism over solid US fuel demand

Oil Updates – prices rise on optimism over solid US fuel demand

TOKYO/BEIJING: Oil prices rose on Thursday, extending the previous day’s rally, driven by optimism over US fuel demand following an unexpected drop in crude and gasoline inventories, while reports that OPEC+ may delay a planned output increase offered support.

Brent crude futures gained 47 cents, or 0.65 percent, to $73.02 a barrel by 8:05 a.m. Saudi time. US West Texas Intermediate crude futures, which are set to expire later in the day, climbed 43 cents, or 0.63 percent, to $69.04 per barrel.

Both contracts rose more than 2 percent on Wednesday, after falling more than 6 percent earlier in the week on the reduced risk of a wider Middle East conflict.

US gasoline stockpiles fell unexpectedly in the week ending Oct. 25 to a two-year low on strengthened demand, the Energy Information Administration said, while crude inventories also posted a surprise drawdown as imports slipped.

Nine analysts polled by Reuters had expected an increase in gasoline and crude inventories.

“The surprise decline in US gasoline stockpiles provided a buying opportunity as demand appeared stronger than anticipated,” said Toshitaka Tazawa, an analyst at Fujitomi Securities.

“Expectations of a potential delay in the OPEC+ production increase were also supportive ... If they do delay, WTI could recover to the $70 level,” he said.

Reuters reported OPEC+, which groups the Organization of the Petroleum Exporting Countries and allies such as Russia, could delay a planned oil production increase in December by a month or more because of concern over soft oil demand and rising supply.

The group is scheduled to raise output by 180,000 barrels per day in December. It had already delayed the increase from October because of falling prices.

A decision to postpone the increase could come as early as next week, two OPEC+ sources told Reuters.

OPEC+ is scheduled to meet on Dec. 1 to decide its next policy steps.

Manufacturing activity in China, the world’s biggest oil importer, expanded in October for the first time in six months, suggesting that stimulus measures are having an effect.

Markets are awaiting the results of the US presidential election on Nov. 5 as well as further details of China’s economic stimulus. Reuters reported that China could approve the issuance of over 10 trillion yuan ($1.4 trillion) in debt over the next few years on the last day of its Nov. 4-8 parliamentary meeting.

In the Middle East, Lebanon’s prime minister expressed hope on Wednesday that a ceasefire deal with Israel would be announced within days as Israel’s public broadcaster published what it said was a draft agreement providing for an initial 60-day truce.

The push for a ceasefire for Lebanon is taking place alongside a similar diplomatic drive to end hostilities in Gaza.

But the market impact is likely to be muted.

“Most of the Middle East geopolitical risk was stripped out of the oil price after Israel’s response to Iran over the weekend,” IG market analyst Tony Sycamore said.

Iran said that Israeli strikes on Saturday, in retaliation for Iran’s Oct. 1 attack on Israel, caused only limited damage.


Saudi GDP grows 2.8% in Q3 amid strong non-oil expansion: GASTAT 

Saudi GDP grows 2.8% in Q3 amid strong non-oil expansion: GASTAT 
Updated 20 min 22 sec ago
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Saudi GDP grows 2.8% in Q3 amid strong non-oil expansion: GASTAT 

Saudi GDP grows 2.8% in Q3 amid strong non-oil expansion: GASTAT 

RIYADH: Saudi Arabia’s real gross domestic product rose by 2.8 percent in the third quarter of this year compared to the same period in 2023, driven by an increase in non-oil activities, official data showed.  

According to the General Authority for Statistics, the Kingdom’s non-oil sector expanded by 4.2 percent year on year in the third quarter, reflecting the goals of Vision 2030 to diversify the economy beyond oil revenues. 

GASTAT data also showed a 3.1 percent rise in government activities year on year, while oil activities grew by a modest 0.3 percent. On a quarterly basis, Saudi Arabia’s seasonally adjusted real gross domestic product rose by 0.8 percent in the third quarter compared to the second quarter. 

Breaking down quarterly figures, non-oil activities increased by 0.5 percent, while oil activities saw a 1.5 percent gain. However, government activities declined by 0.3 percent quarter over quarter. 

Earlier this month, the International Monetary Fund projected Saudi Arabia’s economy to grow by 1.5 percent in 2024 and 4.6 percent in 2025, affirming the Kingdom’s economic resilience. The World Bank echoed similar optimism, forecasting growth of 1.6 percent this year and acceleration to 4.9 percent in 2025. 

These IMF and World Bank projections exceed Saudi Arabia’s own pre-budget forecast, which estimated GDP growth of 0.8 percent in 2024, bolstered by a 3.7 percent rise in non-oil activities. 

Credit rating agency S&P Global, in its September report, also highlighted Saudi Arabia’s economic resilience, forecasting GDP growth of 1.4 percent in 2024 and 5.3 percent in 2025, driven by the Kingdom’s commitment to economic diversification and reducing reliance on oil revenues. 

Affirming the progress of Saudi Arabia’s economic diversification, GASTAT reported earlier this month that the Kingdom’s non-oil exports, including reexports, increased by 7.5 percent in August, reaching SR27.52 billion compared to the same month last year. 

On a monthly basis, Saudi Arabia’s non-oil exports rose by 8.13 percent in August from July levels. 

During the Future Investment Initiative’s eighth edition, Saudi Arabia’s Minister of Finance Mohammed Al-Jadaan highlighted the sector’s growth, noting that non-oil GDP now represents 52 percent of the Kingdom’s economy. 


Saudi oil giant Aramco launches first branded gas station in Pakistan

Saudi oil giant Aramco launches first branded gas station in Pakistan
Updated 30 October 2024
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Saudi oil giant Aramco launches first branded gas station in Pakistan

Saudi oil giant Aramco launches first branded gas station in Pakistan

KARACHI/ISLAMABAD: Saudi oil giant, Aramco, on Tuesday unveiled its first branded retail gas station in Pakistan in the eastern city of Lahore, months after its acquisition of a 40 percent stake in Gas & Oil Pakistan Ltd. petroleum company.

Aramco is a global integrated energy and chemicals company that produces approximately one in every eight barrels of the world’s oil supply. GO, one of Pakistan’s largest retail and storage companies, is involved in the procurement, storage, sale and marketing of petroleum products and lubricants.

The Aramco-branded stations in Pakistan will offer branded premium fuel, high-quality lubricants, professional automotive services and modern convenience stores to provide a seamless customer experience, according to a statement shared by Corporate and Marketing Communications, which handles Go and Aramco’s public relations in Pakistan.

“This is another milestone in Aramco’s downstream growth story, as we launch the first Aramco station in Pakistan — a market with significant growth potential,” Yasser M. Mufti, Aramco executive vice president of products and customers, was quoted as saying by the CMC.

“Our values of excellence, innovation and community partnerships sit at the heart of what we do, and will act as our guide as we leverage our extensive global refinery systems to ensure reliable supplies to customers while introducing our complementary world class retail offerings.”

Together with GO, which has a network of over 1,200 fuel retail stations in Pakistan, Aramco plans to expand its retail network and establish a presence in the fast-growing Pakistani economy.

“We are confident that this partnership will deliver exceptional value to customers,” Mufti said.

Khalid Riaz, the GO chief executive officer, echoed the sentiment, saying the first Aramco-branded gas station in Lahore was a testament to their commitment to excellence and innovation.

“Together with Aramco, we aim to elevate the retail fuel landscape in Pakistan, setting new benchmarks for quality, service, and customer satisfaction,” he said.

Pakistan and Saudi Arabia enjoy strong trade, defense and cultural ties. The Kingdom is home to over 2.7 million Pakistani expatriates and serves as the top source of remittances to the cash-strapped South Asian nation.

In February 2019, Pakistan and Saudi Arabia inked investment deals totaling $21 billion during a visit by Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman to Islamabad. The agreements included about $10 billion for an Aramco oil refinery and $1 billion for a petrochemical complex at the strategic Gwadar Port in Pakistan’s Balochistan province.

Both countries have been working in recent months to increase bilateral trade and investment, and the Kingdom this year reaffirmed its commitment to expedite an investment package worth $5 billion for Pakistan.


Saudi-Pakistan business deals enhanced to $2.8bn, says Al-Falih

Saudi-Pakistan business deals enhanced to $2.8bn, says Al-Falih
Updated 30 October 2024
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Saudi-Pakistan business deals enhanced to $2.8bn, says Al-Falih

Saudi-Pakistan business deals enhanced to $2.8bn, says Al-Falih

ISLAMABAD: Saudi Minister for Investment Khalid Al-Falih said on Wednesday $2.2 billion in agreements and memorandums of understanding signed between Saudi and Pakistani businesses earlier this month had been enhanced to $2.8 billion.

The business-to-business collaborations were signed on Oct. 10 during Al-Falih’s visit to Islamabad with a delegation of top investors and entrepreneurs from the Kingdom.

Pakistani Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif is currently on a two-day visit to Riyadh where he attended the Future Investment Initiative forum on Tuesday and also held a bilateral meeting with Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman who earlier this year reaffirmed the Kingdom’s commitment to expedite a $5 billion investment package for Pakistan.

“When we came to Pakistan, we concluded in three days 27 MoUs valued at $2.2 billion,” Al-Falih said in a televised press talk with Sharif. 

“And I mentioned during that time at various events that this was only the beginning. To prove that, here we are two or three weeks later, and I would like that that number has increased from 27 MoUs and agreements to 34 MoUs.

“So, we have been able to add another seven, almost two per week. And I think more importantly, the value of those agreements has also increased to $2.8 billion.”

The Saudi minister said five agreements signed during his trip to Pakistan were already operational and had resulted in exports from the South Asian state to the Kingdom. Al-Falih said Saudi Arabia would also absorb a greater and more qualified Pakistani workforce, especially in the health sector, in the foreseeable future.

“Remittances back to Pakistan will be on the rise,” the official said. “The first results will be seen in the next few weeks.”

Al-Falih said Saudi Arabia would also seek help from Pakistani technology firms to transform the way digital artificial intelligence was used for business and the economy.

Sharif thanked the Saudi government, especially Crown Prince Mohammed, for helping Pakistan secure a $7 billion International Monetary Fund program last month by helping Islamabad meet its external financing needs.

The PM added that he planned to return to Saudi Arabia next month for more discussions on bilateral engagements.

“Together we are marching forward, together we are strengthening our brotherly relations,” he said.

The Pakistani PM’s visit takes place at a time when Islamabad is seeking to strengthen trade and investment ties with friendly nations, particularly the Kingdom, which has promised a $5 billion investment package that cash-strapped Pakistan desperately needs to shore up its dwindling foreign reserves and fight a chronic balance of payment crisis.


Saudi Arabia emerges as a key destination for global finance, says top banker

Saudi Arabia emerges as a key destination for global finance, says top banker
Updated 30 October 2024
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Saudi Arabia emerges as a key destination for global finance, says top banker

Saudi Arabia emerges as a key destination for global finance, says top banker

RIYADH: Saudi Arabia is emerging as a hub for global finance and investment, according to a Standard Chartered Bank official.

In an interview with Arab News at the Future Investment Initiative in Riyadh, Rola Abu Manneh, CEO of Standard Chartered Bank for the Middle East, UAE, and Pakistan, emphasized the significance of FII as a platform uniting key financial players. She mentioned that attendance has grown from 7,000 in 2023 to around 9,000 in 2024.

“You could see it’s able to attract the fund managers, the bankers, the credit agencies, as well as the Saudi ink. It’s a platform where you meet all the Saudi ink. You learn about what investment Saudi requires. What are their plans in terms of expansion,” she said.

Discussing the Kingdom’s infrastructure and growth initiatives, Abu Manneh highlighted the appeal for contractors, banks, and export credit agencies to collaborate on significant projects like the Red Sea initiative.

“This is where you would have the contractors, the ECAs, and the banks coming in together to put facilities in place,” she added.

Saudi Arabia’s Public Investment Fund and Aramco are also generating interest from equity and debt investors worldwide, driven by their expansion and monetization strategies. “From that angle, there’s opportunity for everybody for equity, for the investments as well as for the debt,” Abu Manneh explained.

She stressed the need for Saudi entities to diversify their funding sources, especially as the Kingdom develops its infrastructure. “It’s very important for them, the Saudi ink, to diversify their funding base and not rely only on the debt capital market,” she explained.

Abu Manneh noted that China has shown significant interest in Saudi projects. “China is looking to come and invest in the Saudi markets,” she said, adding that Chinese companies and banks are keen to establish a presence in the Kingdom.

The bank is pursuing its digital transformation to adapt to changing customer expectations, with substantial investments in AI (artificial intelligence) and digitization. “Because if we don’t do this, frankly, all banks will just disappear,” Abu Manneh remarked.

She added that while AI could enhance customer service and documentation processes, it won't fully replace human interaction, particularly in private banking.