Saudi Arabia: Producers, Importers Compelled to Specify Water Rationalization Average

Image used for illustrative purpose An Asian worker carries a water bottle at his accommodation in Qadisiya labour camp, Saudi Arabia August 17, 2016. Picture taken August 17, 2016. REUTERS/Faisal Al Nasser
Image used for illustrative purpose An Asian worker carries a water bottle at his accommodation in Qadisiya labour camp, Saudi Arabia August 17, 2016. Picture taken August 17, 2016. REUTERS/Faisal Al Nasser
TT
20

Saudi Arabia: Producers, Importers Compelled to Specify Water Rationalization Average

Image used for illustrative purpose An Asian worker carries a water bottle at his accommodation in Qadisiya labour camp, Saudi Arabia August 17, 2016. Picture taken August 17, 2016. REUTERS/Faisal Al Nasser
Image used for illustrative purpose An Asian worker carries a water bottle at his accommodation in Qadisiya labour camp, Saudi Arabia August 17, 2016. Picture taken August 17, 2016. REUTERS/Faisal Al Nasser

Starting the beginning of next year, Saudi Arabia will be demanding that producers and importers specify the water consumption rationalization average in their products.

Saudi Standards, Metrology and Quality Org. (SASO) Deputy Governor Saud al-Askar announced that the obligatory implementation of the technical list of water rationalizing tools will start on Jan.1 2018.

This came during a news conference for SASO, Ministry of Environment, Water and Agriculture, Ministry of Commerce and Investment, Saudi Customs, Ministry of Energy, Industry and Mineral Resources and National Water Company at the headquarters of SASO in Riyadh.

Askar affirmed that the relevant government parties will start with the beginning of next year obliging importers and producers to place a card that shows the average of water consumption rationalization for every product mentioned on the list.

These parties have granted all those concerned an adequate time before the list becomes applicable so that they enjoy the chance to fulfill all demands of the list. In coordination with commerce chambers, SASO held introductory workshops.

Breaching this list would make violators probe to sanctions, said Askar as he urged producers and importers to register soon in the e-system on SASO website.

Undersecretary of Ministry of Environment, Water and Agriculture for Agricultural Affairs Dr. Faisal al-Subaie pointed out that there is a scarcity in water storage in the kingdom, and this mounts the importance of
rationalizing consumption and reinforces sustainability of natural resources.



Boeing Shares Drop after Air India Crash

A tail of an Air India Boeing 787 Dreamliner plane that crashed is seen stuck on a building after the incident in Ahmedabad, India, June 12, 2025. REUTERS/Amit Dave
A tail of an Air India Boeing 787 Dreamliner plane that crashed is seen stuck on a building after the incident in Ahmedabad, India, June 12, 2025. REUTERS/Amit Dave
TT
20

Boeing Shares Drop after Air India Crash

A tail of an Air India Boeing 787 Dreamliner plane that crashed is seen stuck on a building after the incident in Ahmedabad, India, June 12, 2025. REUTERS/Amit Dave
A tail of an Air India Boeing 787 Dreamliner plane that crashed is seen stuck on a building after the incident in Ahmedabad, India, June 12, 2025. REUTERS/Amit Dave

The crash of an Air India 787-8 Dreamliner jet minutes after taking off on Thursday poses another challenge for Boeing, whose new CEO has been trying to rebuild trust following a series of safety and production challenges.

It was not clear what caused the crash, as air disasters can occur for a number of different reasons. The London-bound plane crashed in India's western city of Ahmedabad, authorities said, in the world's worst aviation disaster in a decade.

The disaster, in which most of the 242 people on board were killed, muddies the efforts of CEO Kelly Ortberg to move past its recent issues after the planemaker hit production targets in May and received a vote of confidence from airline bosses in recent months. Shares were down about 4.9% on Thursday. Boeing said it was aware of the initial reports and was working to gather more information.

Before the crash, airline executives had been voicing greater confidence in Boeing's rebound in deliveries and in Ortberg's leadership after years of reputational damage for the planemaker.

At a recent summit in New Delhi, executives were more optimistic over Boeing's crises around safety and regulation. The widebody 787 planes, one of the most modern passenger aircraft in service, have never had a fatal crash until the Air India incident. They were grounded in 2013 due to battery issues, but no one was reported injured.

"It's a knee-jerk reaction (to the incident) and there's revised fears of the problems that plagued Boeing aircraft and Boeing itself in recent years," said Chris Beauchamp, analyst at IG Group.

Boeing's narrowbody 737 MAX jets were grounded for years following two fatal crashes and have faced years of scrutiny and production delays. Last year, the US planemaker came under renewed scrutiny after a door plug blew off a 737 MAX 9 mid-flight, prompting a temporary FAA grounding and fresh concerns over quality control.

Shares of Spirit AeroSystems, a key supplier, and GE Aerospace, which makes engines for the jet, also fell about 2% each. GE Aerospace said it has activated its emergency response team and would support the investigation, but did not specify if the Air India aircraft was equipped with its engines.

The engine maker did not immediately respond to a Reuters request for comment.

Boeing's outstanding debt also sold off modestly after the crash. Its bonds maturing in May 2029 were trading at 88 basis points over Treasuries, or 10 basis points wider than on Wednesday, according to a bond broker.