Dussur, Baker Hughes Inaugurate Petrolite Chemicals Facility in Saudi Arabia

Saudi Minister of Energy Prince Abdulaziz bin Salman, Minister of Investment Khalid al-Falih, and Minister of Industry and Mineral Resources Bandar Alkorayef at the inauguration of the Saudi Petrolite Chemicals. (Baker Hughes)
Saudi Minister of Energy Prince Abdulaziz bin Salman, Minister of Investment Khalid al-Falih, and Minister of Industry and Mineral Resources Bandar Alkorayef at the inauguration of the Saudi Petrolite Chemicals. (Baker Hughes)
TT

Dussur, Baker Hughes Inaugurate Petrolite Chemicals Facility in Saudi Arabia

Saudi Minister of Energy Prince Abdulaziz bin Salman, Minister of Investment Khalid al-Falih, and Minister of Industry and Mineral Resources Bandar Alkorayef at the inauguration of the Saudi Petrolite Chemicals. (Baker Hughes)
Saudi Minister of Energy Prince Abdulaziz bin Salman, Minister of Investment Khalid al-Falih, and Minister of Industry and Mineral Resources Bandar Alkorayef at the inauguration of the Saudi Petrolite Chemicals. (Baker Hughes)

Baker Hughes announced on Sunday the inauguration of its joint venture (JV) oilfield and industrial chemicals manufacturing plant in Jubail Industrial City, eastern Saudi Arabia.

The new plant will cater to oilfield, power generation, and industrial chemicals industries.

Saudi Minister of Energy Prince Abdulaziz bin Salman, Minister of Investment Khalid al-Falih, and Minister of Industry and Mineral Resources Bandar Alkhorayef attended the inauguration.

Baker Hughes signed the joint venture with Dussur, which is owned by the Public Investment Fund (PIF), Saudi Aramco, and Saudi Basic Industries Corporation (SABIC).

The joint venture was announced a year ago, and the Texas-based oilfield services holds a 51 percent stake in the project.

The facility will be known as the Saudi Petrolite Chemicals facility. It will increase Saudi Arabia’s supply base targets of raw materials like solvents and glycols.

It also aims to accelerate the development of manufacturing skills and capabilities of the local workforce with more than 70% Saudization.

With faster delivery of fit-for-purpose chemical solutions, the facility is closer to customers and suppliers, creating efficiencies across the business.

Dussur CEO Raed al-Rayes said the inauguration of the project comes within Dussur’s efforts to cooperate with its partners for strategic localization to maximize the developmental and economic impact in the Kingdom.

“At Dussur, we are proud and appreciative of today’s partnership with Baker Hughes, which marks a significant milestone. This new project will provide special, distinguished opportunities for the sons and daughters of our nation as we target a Saudization rate of more than 70%,” said Rayes.

Baker Hughes CEO Lorenzo Simonelli said: “Today is a testament to Baker Hughes and Dussur's continued efforts to drive in-country value to better serve the chemicals market in the Kingdom and across the region. Aligned to the Kingdom’s vision.”

Simonelli stated that the inauguration of the facility marked another milestone in the Kingdom’s remarkable journey of economic and industrial growth.

“For Baker Hughes, I am proud to be a part of this journey we started more than 85 years ago in Saudi Arabia as we invest in growth together.”

The Saudi Petrolite Chemicals facility spans approximately 90,000 square meters with an on-site quality control lab, ethylene oxide and propylene oxide pipeline feedstock, and 14 storage tanks.

The facility manufactures chemicals for oilfield, power generation, and industrial chemicals.



Revenue Growth, Improved Operational Efficiency Boost Profitability of Saudi Telecom Companies

A man monitors the movement of stocks on the Saudi Tadawul index. (AFP)
A man monitors the movement of stocks on the Saudi Tadawul index. (AFP)
TT

Revenue Growth, Improved Operational Efficiency Boost Profitability of Saudi Telecom Companies

A man monitors the movement of stocks on the Saudi Tadawul index. (AFP)
A man monitors the movement of stocks on the Saudi Tadawul index. (AFP)

Telecommunications companies listed on the Saudi Stock Exchange (Tadawul) achieved a 12.46 percent growth in their net profits, which reached SAR 4.07 billion ($1.09 billion) during the second quarter of 2024, compared to SAR 3.62 billion ($965 million) during the same period last year.

They also recorded a 4.76 percent growth in revenues during the same quarter, after achieving sales worth more than SAR 26.18 billion ($7 billion), compared to SAR 24.99 billion ($6.66 billion) in the same quarter of 2023.

The growth in the revenues and net profitability is the result of several factors, including the increase in sales volume and revenues, especially in the business sector and fifth generation services, as well as the decrease in operating expenses and the focus on improving operational efficiency, controlling costs, and moving towards investment in infrastructure.

The sector comprises four companies, three of which conclude their fiscal year in December: Saudi Telecom Company (STC), Mobily, and Zain Saudi Arabia. The fiscal year of Etihad Atheeb Telecommunications Company (GO) ends on March 31.

According to its financial results announced on Tadawul, Etihad Etisalat Company (Mobily) achieved a 33 percent growth rate of profits, bringing its profits to SAR 661 million by the end of the second quarter of 2024, compared to SAR 497 million during the same period in 2023. The company also achieved a 4.59 percent growth in revenues to reach SAR 4.47 billion, compared to SAR 4.27 billion in the same quarter of last year.

The Saudi Telecom Company achieved the highest net profits among the sector’s companies, at about SAR 3.304 billion in the second quarter of 2024, compared to SAR 3.008 billion in the same quarter of 2023. The company registered a growth of 4.52 percent in revenues.

On the other hand, the revenues of the Saudi Mobile Telecommunications Company (Zain Saudi Arabia) increased by about 6.69 percent, as it recorded SAR 2.55 billion during the second quarter of 2024, compared to SAR 2.39 billion in the same period last year.

Commenting on the quarterly results of the sector’s companies, and the varying net profits, the head of asset management at Rassanah Capital, Thamer Al-Saeed, told Asharq Al-Awsat that the Saudi Telecom Company remains the sector leader in terms of customer base expansion.

He also noted the continued efforts of Mobily and Zain to offer many diverse products and other services.

Financial advisor at the Arab Trader Mohammed Al-Maymouni said the financial results of telecom sector companies have maintained a steady growth, up to 12 percent, adding that Mobily witnessed strong progress compared to the rest of the companies, despite the great competition which affected its revenues.

He added that Zain was moving at a good pace and its revenues have improved during the second quarter of 2024. However, its profits were affected by an increase in the financing cost by SAR 26.5 million riyals and a rise in interest, while net income declined significantly compared to the previous year, during which the company made exceptional returns.