Saudi Arabia Launches New Incentives to Enhance Mining Exploration with $182 Million

The new incentive package includes a series of financial facilities for companies and investors (Photo: Reuters)
The new incentive package includes a series of financial facilities for companies and investors (Photo: Reuters)
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Saudi Arabia Launches New Incentives to Enhance Mining Exploration with $182 Million

The new incentive package includes a series of financial facilities for companies and investors (Photo: Reuters)
The new incentive package includes a series of financial facilities for companies and investors (Photo: Reuters)

The Saudi Ministry of Industry and Mineral Resources launched new incentives, in cooperation with the Ministry of Investment, amounting to approximately SAR 685 million ($182 million), aiming to support mining exploration in the Kingdom and reduce risks facing exploration companies during their early stages, in addition to encouraging investment in this vital sector according to the objectives of Vision 2030.

In a statement, the ministry said that the new incentive package includes a series of financial facilities for companies and investors wishing to invest in mineral resource exploration activities in the Kingdom, in addition to a priority framework for investors who commit to fostering local talent and expertise in the sector.

The ministry added that the new incentives also include financial support for companies that have licenses valid for less than 5 years, as each license is entitled to a maximum support of SAR 7.5 million ($2 million), while each company can benefit from support for up to 15 licenses according to the program’s terms and conditions.



Oil Heads for Weekly Gains on Anxiety over Intensifying Ukraine War

Pump jacks operate in front of a drilling rig in an oilfield in Midland, Texas US August 22, 2018. Picture taken August 22, 2018. REUTERS/Nick Oxford/File Photo
Pump jacks operate in front of a drilling rig in an oilfield in Midland, Texas US August 22, 2018. Picture taken August 22, 2018. REUTERS/Nick Oxford/File Photo
TT

Oil Heads for Weekly Gains on Anxiety over Intensifying Ukraine War

Pump jacks operate in front of a drilling rig in an oilfield in Midland, Texas US August 22, 2018. Picture taken August 22, 2018. REUTERS/Nick Oxford/File Photo
Pump jacks operate in front of a drilling rig in an oilfield in Midland, Texas US August 22, 2018. Picture taken August 22, 2018. REUTERS/Nick Oxford/File Photo

Oil prices extended gains on Friday, heading for a weekly uptick of more than 4%, as the Ukraine war intensified with Russian President Vladimir Putin warning of a global conflict.
Brent crude futures gained 10 cents, or 0.1%, to $74.33 a barrel by 0448 GMT. US West Texas Intermediate crude futures rose 13 cents, or 0.2%, to $70.23 per barrel.
Both contracts jumped 2% on Thursday and are set to cap gains of more than 4% this week, the strongest weekly performance since late September, as Moscow stepped up its offensive against Ukraine after the US and Britain allowed Kyiv to strike Russia with their weapons.
Putin said on Thursday it had fired a ballistic missile at Ukraine and warned of a global conflict, raising the risk of oil supply disruption from one of the world's largest producers.
Russia this month said it produced about 9 million barrels of oil a day, even with output declines following import bans tied to its invasion of Ukraine and supply curbs by producer group OPEC+.
Ukraine has used drones to target Russian oil infrastructure, including in June, when it used long-range attack drones to strike four Russian refineries.
Swelling US crude and gasoline stocks and forecasts of surplus supply next year limited price gains.
"Our base case is that Brent stays in a $70-85 range, with high spare capacity limiting price upside, and the price elasticity of OPEC and shale supply limiting price downside," Goldman Sachs analysts led by Daan Struyven said in a note.
"However, the risks of breaking out are growing," they said, adding that Brent could rise to about $85 a barrel in the first half of 2025 if Iran supply drops by 1 million barrels per day on tighter sanctions enforcement under US President-elect Donald Trump's administration.
Some analysts forecast another jump in US oil inventories in next week's data.
"We will be expecting a rebound in production as well as US refinery activity next week that will carry negative implications for both crude and key products," said Jim Ritterbusch of Ritterbusch and Associates in Florida.
The world's top crude importer, China, meanwhile on Thursday announced policy measures to boost trade, including support for energy product imports, amid worries over Trump's threats to impose tariffs.