UAE’s ADNOC to Begin Production at Ras Al Sadr Gas Field

The field has production capacity of up to 100 million standard cubic feet of gas per day. WAM
The field has production capacity of up to 100 million standard cubic feet of gas per day. WAM
TT

UAE’s ADNOC to Begin Production at Ras Al Sadr Gas Field

The field has production capacity of up to 100 million standard cubic feet of gas per day. WAM
The field has production capacity of up to 100 million standard cubic feet of gas per day. WAM

The United Arab Emirates' state-owned energy giant ADNOC is to start production at the Ras Al Sadr gas field in Abu Dhabi, state news agency WAM reported on Thursday.

The field has production capacity of up to 100 million standard cubic feet of gas per day, WAM said.

Ras Al Sadr is being developed jointly by ADNOC and JODCO, a subsidiary of one of Japan’s largest oil and gas exploration and production companies, INPEX.

“The successful restart of operations in the Ras Al Sadr field highlights ADNOC’s commitment to setting new industry standards as we strive to responsibly meet the demands of an ever-changing energy market,” said ADNOC Upstream Executive Director Abdulmunim Saif Al Kindy.

“The first well at Ras Al Sadr was the start of Abu Dhabi’s oil industry that has powered the UAE’s economy for over half a century. This achievement underscores our contribution to the prosperity and sustainability of the country and reaffirms our commitment to operate in harmony with local communities to create lasting and sustainable value for the nation,” he added.



Washington Urges Israel to Extend Cooperation with Palestinian Banks

A West Bank Jewish settlement is seen in the background, while a protestor waves a Palestinian flag during a protest against Israel's separation barrier in the West Bank village of Bilin in 2012. (AP)
A West Bank Jewish settlement is seen in the background, while a protestor waves a Palestinian flag during a protest against Israel's separation barrier in the West Bank village of Bilin in 2012. (AP)
TT

Washington Urges Israel to Extend Cooperation with Palestinian Banks

A West Bank Jewish settlement is seen in the background, while a protestor waves a Palestinian flag during a protest against Israel's separation barrier in the West Bank village of Bilin in 2012. (AP)
A West Bank Jewish settlement is seen in the background, while a protestor waves a Palestinian flag during a protest against Israel's separation barrier in the West Bank village of Bilin in 2012. (AP)

The United States on Thursday called on Israel to extend its cooperation with Palestinian banks for another year, to avoid blocking vital transactions in the occupied West Bank.

"I am glad that Israel has allowed its banks to continue cooperating with Palestinian banks, but I remain convinced that a one-year extension of the waiver to facilitate this cooperation is needed," US Treasury Secretary Janet Yellen said Thursday, on the sidelines of a meeting of G20 finance ministers in Rio de Janeiro.

In May, Israeli Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich threatened to cut off a vital banking channel between Israel and the West Bank in response to three European countries recognizing the State of Palestine.

On June 30, however, Smotrich extended a waiver that allows cooperation between Israel's banking system and Palestinian banks in the occupied West Bank for four months, according to Israeli media, according to AFP.

The Times of Israel newspaper reported that the decision on the waiver was made at a cabinet meeting in a "move that saw Israel legalize several West Bank settlement outposts."

The waiver was due to expire at the end of June, and the extension permitted Israeli banks to process payments for salaries and services to the Palestinian Authority in shekels, averting a blow to a Palestinian economy already devastated by the war in Gaza.

The Israeli threat raised serious concerns in the United States, which said at the time it feared "a humanitarian crisis" if banking ties were cut.

According to Washington, these banking channels are key to nearly $8 billion of imports from Israel to the West Bank, including electricity, water, fuel and food.