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Saudi Arabia Unveils First Natural Gas Storage Project with Storage Capacity of 2 Bln ft3

Ministers and officials during the annual ceremony of the National Industrial Development and Logistics Program. (Asharq Al-Awsat)
Ministers and officials during the annual ceremony of the National Industrial Development and Logistics Program. (Asharq Al-Awsat)
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Saudi Arabia Unveils First Natural Gas Storage Project with Storage Capacity of 2 Bln ft3

Ministers and officials during the annual ceremony of the National Industrial Development and Logistics Program. (Asharq Al-Awsat)
Ministers and officials during the annual ceremony of the National Industrial Development and Logistics Program. (Asharq Al-Awsat)

Saudi Minister of Industry and Mineral Resources Bandar Alkhorayef has unveiled the first-ever natural gas storage project in Al-Hawiyah, Unaizah.

With a storage capacity of 2 billion cubic feet, this project is a flagship initiative under the National Industrial Development and Logistics Program (NIDLP), a cornerstone of Saudi Vision 2030.

Key to this vision is Saudi Arabia’s strategic intent to leverage its geographical advantage and natural resources to foster an economy open to foreign investment and ripe for competitive growth.

Alkhorayef - who is also the chairman of NIDLP - noted during the annual celebration of the program in the attendance of several ministers and officials that NIDLP has witnessed the signing of five new renewable energy projects of production capacity up to 6 gigawatts.

He indicated that these projects would produce energy at competitive prices.

The mining sector has witnessed a record revenue surge of more than SAR 1.5 billion ($400 million), under the program’s influence, the minister reiterated.

He further noted that the Kingdom has won the award of the best state in enhancing the legislative and investment environment in mining.

The Saudi minister continued that the program has attained many achievements, the most important of which is the launch of four new economic zones by Prince Mohammad bin Salman bin Abdulaziz, Crown Prince and Prime Minister.

Also speaking at the same event, Saudi Minister of Transport and Logistics Sector Saleh Al-Jasser said: “In cooperation with NIDLP, we are continuing to achieve the national transport strategy.”

CEO of NIDLP Suliman Al-Mazroua shed light on the program’s executive performance during 2023.

“The program’s executive performance increased to 87 percent and by more than 17 degrees since the beginning of the year,” Al-Mazroua disclosed.

As for job creation in 2023, he projected it would be the highest, standing at more than 200,000 jobs.

Economic indicators of the NIDLP reveal a contribution of 35% to the non-oil GDP, with non-governmental investments surpassing SAR 97 billion ($25.8 billion).

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Dollar Strengthens on Elevated US Bond Yields, Tariff Talks

A teller sorts US dollar banknotes inside the cashier's booth at a forex exchange bureau in downtown Nairobi, Kenya February 16, 2024. REUTERS/Thomas Mukoya/File photo
A teller sorts US dollar banknotes inside the cashier's booth at a forex exchange bureau in downtown Nairobi, Kenya February 16, 2024. REUTERS/Thomas Mukoya/File photo
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Dollar Strengthens on Elevated US Bond Yields, Tariff Talks

A teller sorts US dollar banknotes inside the cashier's booth at a forex exchange bureau in downtown Nairobi, Kenya February 16, 2024. REUTERS/Thomas Mukoya/File photo
A teller sorts US dollar banknotes inside the cashier's booth at a forex exchange bureau in downtown Nairobi, Kenya February 16, 2024. REUTERS/Thomas Mukoya/File photo

The dollar rose for a second day on Wednesday on higher US bond yields, sending other major currencies to multi-month lows, with a report that Donald Trump was mulling emergency measures to allow for a new tariff program also lending support.

The already-firm dollar climbed higher on Wednesday after CNN reported that President-elect Trump is considering declaring a national economic emergency as legal justification for a large swath of universal tariffs on allies and adversaries.

The dollar index was last up 0.5% at 109.24, not far from the two-year peak of 109.58 it hit last week, Reuters reported.

Its gains were broad-based, with the euro down 0.43% at $1.0293 and Britain's pound under particular pressure, down 1.09% at $1.2342.

Data on Tuesday showed US job openings unexpectedly rose in November and layoffs were low, while a separate survey showed US services sector activity accelerated in December and a measure of input prices hit a two-year high - a possible inflation warning.

Bond markets reacted by sending 10-year Treasury yields up more than eight basis points on Tuesday, with the yield climbing to 4.728% on Wednesday.

"We're getting very strong US numbers... which has rates going up," said Bart Wakabayashi, Tokyo branch manager at State Street, pushing expectations of Fed rate cuts out to the northern summer or beyond.

"There's even the discussion about, will they cut, or may they even hike? The narrative has changed quite significantly."

Markets are now pricing in just 36 basis points of easing from the Fed this year, with a first cut in July.

US private payrolls data due later in the session will be eyed for further clues on the likely path of US rates.

Traders are jittery ahead of key US labor data on Friday and the inauguration of Donald Trump on Jan. 20, with his second US presidency expected to begin with a flurry of policy announcements and executive orders.

The move in the pound drew particular attention, as it came alongside a sharp sell-off in British stocks and government bonds. The 10-year gilt yield is at its highest since 2008.

Higher yields in general are more likely to lead to a stronger currency, but not in this case.

"With a non-data driven rise in yields that is not driven by any positive news - and the trigger seems to be inflation concern in the US, and Treasuries are selling off - the correlation inverts," said Francesco Pesole, currency analyst at ING.

"That doesn't happen for every currency, but the pound remains more sensitive than most other currencies to a rise in yields, likely because there's still this lack of confidence in the sustainability of budget measures."

Markets did not welcome the budget from Britain's new Labor government late last year.

Elsewhere, the yen sagged close to the 160 per dollar level that drew intervention last year, touching 158.55, its weakest on the dollar for nearly six months.

Japan's consumer sentiment deteriorated in December, a government survey showed, casting doubt on the central bank's view that solid household spending will underpin the economy and justify a rise in interest rates.

China's yuan hit 7.3322 per dollar, the lowest level since September 2023.