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Solar Energy in Saudi Arabia Attracts Japanese, French Investments

Clean energy projects are key drivers to achieving sustainability and avoiding carbon emissions. (SPA) 
Clean energy projects are key drivers to achieving sustainability and avoiding carbon emissions. (SPA) 
TT
TT

Solar Energy in Saudi Arabia Attracts Japanese, French Investments

Clean energy projects are key drivers to achieving sustainability and avoiding carbon emissions. (SPA) 
Clean energy projects are key drivers to achieving sustainability and avoiding carbon emissions. (SPA) 

A consortium consisting of Japanese Toyota Tsusho, French TotalEnergies Renewables, and Saudi Altaaqa Renewable Energy (a Zahid Group company) has completed a $100 million funding to construct a solar energy plant in the Kingdom.

 

The solar plant to be located in Wadi Ad Dawasir is the first renewable project in Saudi Arabia for Toyota Tsusho.

 

The construction of the plant, with a power generating capacity of 119MW, is expected to start in March 2025, according to a statement issued by the Japanese firm on Wednesday.

 

The project will be constructed as an independent power producer (IPP) for the sale of electricity.

 

This project will be implemented by three companies, Toyota Tsusho, TotalEnergies Renewables, and Altaaqa Renewable Energy through a joint venture company, Noor Alwadi Renewable Energy Company, the statement added.

 

Shares of Noor Alwadi Renewable Energy Company are distributed as follows: Toyota Tsusho 40%, TotalEnergies Renewables 40%, and Altaaqa 20%.

 

The Water and Electricity Holding Company (Badeel), a wholly owned company of the Public Investment Fund (PIF), and ACWA Power announced a month ago the signing of power purchase agreements (PPAs) with the Saudi Power Procurement Company (SPPC) for the development, and operation of three major new solar PV Independent Power Producer (IPP) projects in Saudi Arabia.

 

The combined value of the three projects is 12.2 billion Saudi riyals ($3.25 billion).

 

The projects are part of the National Renewable Energy Program, which is supervised by the Ministry of Energy, and aims to develop 70% of the renewable energy target capacity in Saudi Arabia by 2030.

 

Moreover, Saudi Arabia has launched five projects to produce electricity using renewable energy, with a total capacity of 3,300 megawatts.

 

Saudi Arabia aims to have 50 percent renewable energy by 2030.

 

Clean energy projects are key drivers to achieving sustainability and avoiding carbon emissions.

 

Saudi Arabia also plans on achieving net zero by 2060 through more than 60 projects under the Saudi Green Initiative launched by Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman in Oct. in 2021.

 

It aims to reduce carbon emissions by more than 278 mtpa by 2030, and plant 10 billion trees across the Kingdom.

 

 

 

 

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Oil Recovers from Multi-year Low but Brent Remains below $70

FILE PHOTO: A view shows an oil pump jack outside Almetyevsk in the Republic of Tatarstan, Russia, June 4, 2023. REUTERS/Alexander Manzyuk/File Photo
FILE PHOTO: A view shows an oil pump jack outside Almetyevsk in the Republic of Tatarstan, Russia, June 4, 2023. REUTERS/Alexander Manzyuk/File Photo
TT
TT

Oil Recovers from Multi-year Low but Brent Remains below $70

FILE PHOTO: A view shows an oil pump jack outside Almetyevsk in the Republic of Tatarstan, Russia, June 4, 2023. REUTERS/Alexander Manzyuk/File Photo
FILE PHOTO: A view shows an oil pump jack outside Almetyevsk in the Republic of Tatarstan, Russia, June 4, 2023. REUTERS/Alexander Manzyuk/File Photo

Oil prices were steady on Thursday, recovering slightly from a multi-year low, though Brent was still below $70 under pressure from trade tariffs between the US, Canada, Mexico and China and OPEC+ plans to raise output.

Those factors and a larger than expected build in US crude inventories had sent Brent as low as $68.33 on Wednesday, its weakest since December 2021. Brent futures were up 28 cents, or 0.4%, at $69.58 a barrel by 0957 GMT on Thursday while US West Texas Intermediate crude futures gained 32 cents, or 0.5%, to $66.63.

"The US President's intention seems to be for a lower oil price," said John Evans at oil broker PVM, adding that questions remain around whether crude is being oversold, Reuters reported.

Prices had fallen after the US enacted tariffs on Canadian and Mexican goods, including energy imports, at the same time major producers decided to raise output quotas for the first time since 2022.

Oil recovered and stabilized somewhat after the US said it will make automakers exempt from the 25% tariffs.

A source familiar with the discussions said that US President Donald Trump could eliminate the 10% tariff on Canadian energy imports, such as crude oil and gasoline, that comply with existing trade agreements.

"Trump's trade measures are threatening to reduce global energy demand and disrupt trade flows in the global oil market," ANZ commodity strategist Daniel Hynes said in a note.

The OPEC+ producer group, comprising the Organization of the Petroleum Exporting Countries and allies including Russia, decided on Monday to increase output for the first time since 2022.

The resulting retreat in prices was then exacerbated on Wednesday by a rise in US crude inventories, said ANZ's Hynes.

Crude stockpiles in the US, the world's biggest oil consumer, rose more than expected last week, buoyed by seasonal refinery maintenance, while gasoline and distillate inventories fell because of a hike in exports, the Energy Information Administration said on Wednesday.

There are further signs of weakness in American oil demand, with US waterborne crude oil imports dropping to a four-year low in February, driven by a fall in Canadian barrels shipped to the East Coast, ship tracking data shows. Demand was subdued by refinery maintenance including a long turnaround at the largest plant in the region.

Tariffs also remain in effect on US imports of Mexican crude, a smaller supply stream than Canadian crude but an important one for US refineries on the Gulf Coast.

Meanwhile, Chinese officials have flagged that more stimulus is possible if economic growth slows, seeking to support consumption and cushion the impact of an escalating trade war with the United States.