Egypt's Petroleum Minister Inaugurates Gold Ores Analysis Facility

Egypt's Petroleum Minister Tarek El Molla inspects the gold ores and associated minerals examination laboratory. (Asharq Al-Awsat)
Egypt's Petroleum Minister Tarek El Molla inspects the gold ores and associated minerals examination laboratory. (Asharq Al-Awsat)
TT

Egypt's Petroleum Minister Inaugurates Gold Ores Analysis Facility

Egypt's Petroleum Minister Tarek El Molla inspects the gold ores and associated minerals examination laboratory. (Asharq Al-Awsat)
Egypt's Petroleum Minister Tarek El Molla inspects the gold ores and associated minerals examination laboratory. (Asharq Al-Awsat)

Egypt's Petroleum Minister Tarek El Molla inaugurated a factory specialized in preparing and analyzing samples extracted from mines at the Um Rus Mine area in Marsa Alam.

The factory would examine the gold ores and associated minerals.

El Molla stressed that the state’s interest in the development of mining activity has resulted in the attraction of world and national investments in this field.

He added that the vision to develop the mining sector – launched in 2018 – created flexibility that accelerated the companies’ operations and helped them achieve added value and returns for the national economy.

During his field visit to the area, he noted that the reforms carried out by the state seek to prepare an investment-friendly environment.

El Molla urged a quick implementation of the investments and plans in the business development and management in the concession area.

Chairman of Nubian Mining Company Issam Khorani confirmed the company’s commitment to its investments in Egypt, presenting the results of the company during the first phase of exploration as proof.

During this phase, the company spent a total of $4.5 billion and this resulted in facilities, infrastructure, geological data maps, and promising research and exploration points in the concession area.

Nubian Mining is on the right track in accelerating the exploitation of mineral wealth and increasing their return on the national economy and their role in sustainable development plans.

The minister further listened to a briefing by the Director of Research and Exploration at Nubian Mining Company, Attia Makhlouf, who noted that the company has conducted geological and structural mapping of most of the concession area and a surface survey of a number of reservoirs and wells in various locations.

He went on to say that the company is carrying out a 3D survey of the Umm al-Rus underground tunnels using the latest 3D portable scanner technologies.



Oil Prices Steady as Markets Weigh Demand against US Inventories

FILE - Pump jacks extract oil from beneath the ground in North Dakota, May 19, 2021. (AP Photo/Matthew Brown, File)
FILE - Pump jacks extract oil from beneath the ground in North Dakota, May 19, 2021. (AP Photo/Matthew Brown, File)
TT

Oil Prices Steady as Markets Weigh Demand against US Inventories

FILE - Pump jacks extract oil from beneath the ground in North Dakota, May 19, 2021. (AP Photo/Matthew Brown, File)
FILE - Pump jacks extract oil from beneath the ground in North Dakota, May 19, 2021. (AP Photo/Matthew Brown, File)

Oil prices were little changed on Thursday as investors weighed firm winter fuel demand expectations against large US fuel inventories and macroeconomic concerns.

Brent crude futures were down 3 cents at $76.13 a barrel by 1003 GMT. US West Texas Intermediate crude futures dipped 10 cents to $73.22.

Both benchmarks fell more than 1% on Wednesday as a stronger dollar and a bigger than expected rise in US fuel stockpiles pressured prices.

"The oil market is still grappling with opposite forces - seasonal demand to support the bulls and macro data that supports a stronger US dollar in the medium term ... that can put a ceiling to prevent the bulls from advancing further," said OANDA senior market analyst Kelvin Wong.

JPMorgan analysts expect oil demand for January to expand by 1.4 million barrels per day (bpd) year on year to 101.4 million bpd, primarily driven by increased use of heating fuels in the Northern Hemisphere.

"Global oil demand is expected to remain strong throughout January, fuelled by colder than normal winter conditions that are boosting heating fuel consumption, as well as an earlier onset of travel activities in China for the Lunar New Year holidays," the analysts said.

The market structure in Brent futures is also indicating that traders are becoming more concerned about supply tightening at the same time demand is increasing.

The premium of the front-month Brent contract over the six-month contract reached its widest since August on Wednesday. A widening of this backwardation, when futures for prompt delivery are higher than for later delivery, typically indicates that supply is declining or demand is increasing.

Nevertheless, official Energy Information Administration (EIA) data showed rising gasoline and distillates stockpiles in the United States last week.

The dollar strengthened further on Thursday, underpinned by rising Treasury yields ahead of US President-elect Donald Trump's entrance into the White House on Jan. 20.

Looking ahead, WTI crude oil is expected to oscillate within a range of $67.55 to $77.95 into February as the market awaits more clarity on Trump's administration policies and fresh fiscal stimulus measures out of China, OANDA's Wong said.