Saudi Arabia's Oxagon Signs Land Lease with AHG for Industrial Gases Facility

Aerial photo of Oxagon (Oxagon website)
Aerial photo of Oxagon (Oxagon website)
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Saudi Arabia's Oxagon Signs Land Lease with AHG for Industrial Gases Facility

Aerial photo of Oxagon (Oxagon website)
Aerial photo of Oxagon (Oxagon website)

Oxagon, the reimagined industrial city of NEOM, announced on Sunday the signing of a land lease agreement with Abdullah Hashim Industrial Gases & Equipment Co. Ltd (AHG).

As part of the $160 million investment, AHG will develop in multiple phases a state-of-the-art industrial gases production and distribution facility in Oxagon’s Industrial Quarter.

With groundbreaking scheduled for February 2026, the first phase will include essential industrial gases infrastructure, offices, warehousing and distribution capabilities, Oxagon said in a statement.

Operations are also due to commence in late 2026, with subsequent phases expected to start in 2028.

According to the statement, the strategic partnership signals Oxagon’s readiness as an industrial city, with the production and distribution of industrial gases paving the way for tenants to ramp up development and begin production from 2026 onwards.

“Our partnership with AHG exemplifies Oxagon’s readiness to welcome world-class tenants and accelerate the Kingdom’s transition to a diversified, future-ready economy,” CEO of Oxagon Vishal Wanchoo said.

“Leveraging AHG’s industrial gases expertise, we are developing a streamlined local supply chain that meets the demands of modern industry and supports the transition to sustainable energy solutions, enabling cleaner manufacturing practices.”

For his part, CEO of the AHG Group Companies Khalid Abdullah Hashim said: “We are keen to play our role in supporting the industrial gases requirements of international and local investors with cost competitive, high reliability products and services.”

The demand for industrial gases in Oxagon is anticipated to grow as the region continues to attract industries across manufacturing, transportation, and beyond.

AHG’s new facility will play a vital role in localized production and distribution, reducing reliance on long-distance imports, minimizing supply chain disruptions and reducing carbon dioxide (CO₂) emissions from transport.

Additionally, it will enhance cost competitiveness for tenants by providing them with more affordable and reliable access to essential industrial gases.

“This is a step forward in addressing some of the broader environmental impacts of manufacturing, including value chain (scope 3) emissions,” the statement said.

As part of its phased development plan, AHG plans to produce green oxygen, nitrogen, argon and hydrogen, further supporting Saudi Arabia’s broader renewable energy transition goals.

In line with Saudi Vision 2030, the development of the facility will also stimulate GDP growth by creating specialized roles in the industrial gases sector and equipping local talent with advanced skills and expertise.



Morocco’s Royal Air Maroc Scales Back Flights Due to Fuel Costs

 People board a Royal Air Maroc flight on July 15, 2020 at Bordeaux airport. (AFP)
People board a Royal Air Maroc flight on July 15, 2020 at Bordeaux airport. (AFP)
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Morocco’s Royal Air Maroc Scales Back Flights Due to Fuel Costs

 People board a Royal Air Maroc flight on July 15, 2020 at Bordeaux airport. (AFP)
People board a Royal Air Maroc flight on July 15, 2020 at Bordeaux airport. (AFP)

Morocco's state-owned carrier Royal Air Maroc (RAM) said on Saturday it would temporarily suspend several routes to African and European destinations due to ‌rising jet ‌fuel prices, ‌elevated ⁠operating costs and ⁠weak demand.

Tensions in the Middle East have driven a surge in global jet fuel ⁠prices, putting ‌pressure ‌on carriers and ‌prompting temporary route suspensions.

RAM ‌will pause flights linking Moroccan airports with several African cities ‌of Bangui, Brazzaville, Kinshasa, Douala, Yaounde and ⁠Libreville, ⁠the airline said in a statement.

It will also halt flights to the European destinations of Malaga, Barcelona, Lyon, Bordeaux, Marseille and Brussels.


Official: Iraq Has Not Yet Applied for an IMF Loan

A floating oil export platform in Basra port, Iraq (Reuters)
A floating oil export platform in Basra port, Iraq (Reuters)
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Official: Iraq Has Not Yet Applied for an IMF Loan

A floating oil export platform in Basra port, Iraq (Reuters)
A floating oil export platform in Basra port, Iraq (Reuters)

Financial Advisor to the Iraqi Prime Minister Mazhar Mohammed Saleh revealed on Saturday that Iraq has not yet submitted a formal request for a loan from the International Monetary Fund (IMF).

The Iraqi News Agency quoted Saleh as saying that “Iraq enjoys close relations with the IMF, and since 2003, it has concluded more than five agreements, three of which were Stand-by Arrangements, while the other agreements related to emergency support.”

Iran's war has caused significant disruptions in supply chains, especially in the energy sector, which was severely affected by a near-complete closure of the Strait of Hormuz, through which about 20 percent of global oil supplies pass.

Saleh stated that “the Fund has played a significant role in supporting the Iraqi economy over the past 23 years, especially since Iraq is now considered one of the biggest victims of the ongoing war in the region, considering that 85 percent of its oil exports pass through the Strait of Hormuz. This has caused significant harm and international concern, given that Iraq is an important and active member in the stability of the region and world markets.”

He pointed out that there is an Iraqi government team in contact with the IMF, meeting with Fund officials for consultations twice a year.

He clarified that “Iraq signed an agreement with the IMF on July 7, 2016, for a Stand-by Arrangement by providing a significant loan, which played a major role in supporting the general budget,” noting that “signing an agreement with the Fund is a matter decided by the Iraqi government, and this does not prevent consultations between the two parties, as Iraq is a member of this institution responsible for global stability.”

Saleh mentioned that “Iraq will borrow from the International Monetary Fund if the need arises, but there is no formal request from the government yet, and the current need is for the war in the region to stop, and for its geopolitical impacts on oil exports to cease.”

He added that “technical assistance from the IMF is available now, unlike the issue of financing, which requires the approval of a program by the Iraqi government.”

He explained that “the loan itself represents a reform program to support the budget or to achieve social goals, such as supporting the health and education sectors, because it is a human investment that must be subject to conditions defining expenditure directions and commitment to a reform program agreed upon by the Iraqi state and the IMF.”


Mawani Adds CMA CGM’s Ocean Rise Express Service to Jeddah Port

Mawani Adds CMA CGM’s Ocean Rise Express Service to Jeddah Port
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Mawani Adds CMA CGM’s Ocean Rise Express Service to Jeddah Port

Mawani Adds CMA CGM’s Ocean Rise Express Service to Jeddah Port

The Saudi Ports Authority (Mawani) has added CMA CGM's Ocean Rise Express (OCR) shipping service to Jeddah Islamic Port, aiming to strengthen maritime connectivity between Saudi Arabia and global markets, support the smooth flow of supply chains, and increase the efficiency of port operations.

The OCR service will connect Jeddah to key international ports, including Kobe, Nagoya, and Yokohama in Japan; Xiamen, Yantian, and Nansha in China; Rotterdam in the Netherlands; Hamburg in Germany; and Southampton in the United Kingdom.

The route will utilize vessels with a capacity of up to 10,000 TEUs, according to SPA.

This addition aligns with Mawani’s efforts to enhance Jeddah Islamic Port’s global competitiveness and support international trade.

By enabling access to new markets, the initiative reinforces the Kingdom's position as a global logistics hub in line with the National Transport and Logistics Strategy and Saudi Vision 2030.