OPEC Chief Stresses Commitment to Support Market Stability

Al Ghais spoke on Thursday at the 16th High-Level Meeting of the Energy Dialogue between OPEC and the EU in Brussels
Al Ghais spoke on Thursday at the 16th High-Level Meeting of the Energy Dialogue between OPEC and the EU in Brussels
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OPEC Chief Stresses Commitment to Support Market Stability

Al Ghais spoke on Thursday at the 16th High-Level Meeting of the Energy Dialogue between OPEC and the EU in Brussels
Al Ghais spoke on Thursday at the 16th High-Level Meeting of the Energy Dialogue between OPEC and the EU in Brussels

OPEC Secretary General Haitham Al Ghais has reiterated the Organization of the Petroleum Exporting Countries’ commitment to support market stability and emphasized the need for long-term investment in all energies to meet expected future demand growth.

Al Ghais spoke on Thursday at the 16th High-Level Meeting of the Energy Dialogue between OPEC and the European Union (EU) at the European Commission Headquarters in Brussels.

The meeting was co-chaired by Al Ghais and European Commissioner for Energy and Housing Dan Jørgensen.

The dialogue was first established in 2005, making it OPEC’s longest-standing dialogue. Since then, the cooperation has included 16 high-level, five technical and numerous bilateral meetings in both Vienna and Brussels, ten joint studies, the co-hosting of numerous workshops and roundtables and the facilitation of valuable exchanges on energy market outlooks.

Al Ghais reflected on the productive collaboration between the two organizations over more than two decades, and emphasized the value of exchanging views on energy issues of common interest.

The importance of the dialogue is evident in a dynamically evolving global environment, which creates challenges for global energy markets and the global economy more broadly, Al Ghais said.

Moreover, he underscored the benefits of dialogue to help navigate market challenges, reiterating OPEC’s commitment to support market stability and emphasizing the need for long-term investment in all energies to meet expected future demand growth.

Discussions focused on the current oil and energy market outlook, including supply and demand dynamics, macroeconomic conditions, the evolving global energy mix and the need for balanced and realistic approaches to future energy pathways. The meeting also highlighted the need for all energies to help deliver energy security and energy availability, and all technologies to help achieve emissions reductions.

OPEC reiterated its commitment to maintaining open and constructive dialogue and to continue strengthening cooperation within the framework of the OPEC-EU Energy Dialogue.

It was agreed that the next High-Level Meeting of the OPEC-EU Energy Dialogue will take place in November 2026 in Vienna.



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.