Saudi Energy Minister: Providing Competitive Energy Prices for Companies

Saudi Energy Minister Prince Abdulaziz Bin Salman at the Digital Government Forum in Riyadh
Saudi Energy Minister Prince Abdulaziz Bin Salman at the Digital Government Forum in Riyadh
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Saudi Energy Minister: Providing Competitive Energy Prices for Companies

Saudi Energy Minister Prince Abdulaziz Bin Salman at the Digital Government Forum in Riyadh
Saudi Energy Minister Prince Abdulaziz Bin Salman at the Digital Government Forum in Riyadh

Saudi Energy Minister Prince Abdulaziz Bin Salman has revealed a new initiative led by the Kingdom aimed at providing sustainable energy to businesses at a fixed and stable price for an extended period.
He revealed that there are currently 1,200 sites across various regions of the Kingdom being studied to determine the most suitable locations for solar energy projects.
During a session titled ‘The Role of Innovation and Digital Transformation in Enhancing Efficiency in the Energy Sector Towards a Sustainable Future’ at the Digital Government Forum in Riyadh, the prince announced a new direction to provide sustainable energy to companies at a fixed and stable price for a long period, asserting that the Kingdom is capable of doing so to enhance the economic returns of facilities.
The minister added that the Ministry has succeeded in reducing costs by using modern technologies in the process of extracting, producing, and distributing all forms of energy, as well as in reducing costs in manufacturing spare parts and devices used in these processes.
He also noted that the Kingdom has ‘thousands’ of oil and gas pipelines spread across the country, highlighting the importance of artificial intelligence technology in monitoring various aspects around them, including maintenance, safety, and security.



Oil Up as Israel, Hezbollah Trade Accusations of Ceasefire Violation

FILE - An aurora borealis, also known as the northern lights, makes an appearance over pumpjacks as they draw out oil and gas from well heads near Cremona, Alberta, Thursday, Oct. 10, 2024. (Jeff McIntosh/The Canadian Press via AP, File)
FILE - An aurora borealis, also known as the northern lights, makes an appearance over pumpjacks as they draw out oil and gas from well heads near Cremona, Alberta, Thursday, Oct. 10, 2024. (Jeff McIntosh/The Canadian Press via AP, File)
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Oil Up as Israel, Hezbollah Trade Accusations of Ceasefire Violation

FILE - An aurora borealis, also known as the northern lights, makes an appearance over pumpjacks as they draw out oil and gas from well heads near Cremona, Alberta, Thursday, Oct. 10, 2024. (Jeff McIntosh/The Canadian Press via AP, File)
FILE - An aurora borealis, also known as the northern lights, makes an appearance over pumpjacks as they draw out oil and gas from well heads near Cremona, Alberta, Thursday, Oct. 10, 2024. (Jeff McIntosh/The Canadian Press via AP, File)

Oil prices ticked up on Thursday after Israel and Lebanon’s Hezbollah traded accusations that their ceasefire had been violated, and as Israeli tanks fired on south Lebanon.

OPEC+ also delayed by a few days a meeting likely to extend production cuts.

Brent crude futures edged up by 30 cents, or 0.4%, to $73.13 a barrel by 1741 GMT. US West Texas Intermediate crude futures were up 23 cents, 0.3%, at $68.93. Trading was thin because of the US Thanksgiving holiday, Reuters reported.
Israel's military said the ceasefire was violated after what it called suspects, some in vehicles, arrived at several areas in the southern zone.
The deal, which took effect on Wednesday, was intended to allow people in both countries to start returning to homes in border areas shattered by 14 months of fighting.
The Middle East is one of the world's major oil-producing regions, and while the ongoing conflict has not so far not impacted supply it has been reflected in a risk premium for traders.
Elsewhere, OPEC+, comprising the Organization of the Petroleum Exporting Countries and allies including Russia, delayed its next policy meeting to Dec. 5 from Dec. 1 to avoid a conflict with another event.
Also supporting prices, OPEC+ sources have said there will again be discussion over another delay to an oil output increase scheduled for January.
"It's highly unlikely they are going to announce an increase production at this meeting," said Rory Johnston, analyst at Commodity Context.
The group pumps about half the world's oil but has maintained production cuts to support prices. It hopes to unwind those cuts, but weak global demand has forced it to delay the start of gradual increases.
A further delay has mostly been factored in to oil prices already, said Suvro Sarkar at DBS Bank. "The only question is whether it's a one-month pushback, or three, or even longer."
Depressing prices slightly, US gasoline stocks rose 3.3 million barrels in the week ending Nov. 22, the US Energy Information Administration said on Wednesday, countering expectations of a small draw in fuel stocks ahead of holiday travel.
Slowing fuel demand growth in top consumers China and the US has weighed on oil prices this year.