Saudi Arabia to Increase Oil Output in July to Record Rate

An oil tanker is being loaded at Saudi Aramco's Ras Tanura oil refinery and oil terminal in Saudi Arabia May 21, 2018. REUTERS/Ahmed Jadallah/File Photo
An oil tanker is being loaded at Saudi Aramco's Ras Tanura oil refinery and oil terminal in Saudi Arabia May 21, 2018. REUTERS/Ahmed Jadallah/File Photo
TT

Saudi Arabia to Increase Oil Output in July to Record Rate

An oil tanker is being loaded at Saudi Aramco's Ras Tanura oil refinery and oil terminal in Saudi Arabia May 21, 2018. REUTERS/Ahmed Jadallah/File Photo
An oil tanker is being loaded at Saudi Aramco's Ras Tanura oil refinery and oil terminal in Saudi Arabia May 21, 2018. REUTERS/Ahmed Jadallah/File Photo

State oil company Saudi Aramco is aiming to boost production next month to about 10.8 million barrels a day, the people said, asking not be named discussing confidential information. That would surpass the previous high of 10.72 million barrels a day in November 2016.

OPEC and other producers, Russia in the lead, stroke a deal on Saturday to increase the output after being urged by consuming states, including US, to increase product. Saudi Arabia said that the agreement will result in an increase of around one million barrel per day, or 1 percent of the global crude supplies.

It seems clear that Riyadh has been preparing for raising the output in the beginning of this month, based on what has been stated by Saudi Arabian Energy Minister Khalid Al-Falih in Vienna on Saturday when he said that Aramco received instructions to get ready to raise output.

Despite the deal, the US seems unsatisfied with the raise in which United States Secretary of Energy Richard Perry notified journalists on Monday that he sees the reached deal by OPEC and oil producing states in the beginning of the week might not be sufficient to alleviate pressures on the global oil markets resulting from supplies obstacles.

Perry stated that this deal might be a bit less than what the market needs.

The lion's share of the oil production increases agreed to by the Organization of the Petroleum Exporting Countries (OPEC) and non-OPEC oil producers will come from Saudi Arabia and its exports likely will be biased toward light crude, Energy Aspects said in a note on Monday.

Saudi Arabia and Russia to compensate for any additional future supply declines elsewhere, adding up to another 400,000 bpd.

Saudi Arabia's production is expected to average about 10.5 million bpd in Q3, with some months possibly averaging close to record highs above 10.6 million bpd.



Riyadh, Tokyo Seek to Expand Cooperation in Clean Energy Technology and Green Hydrogen

Construction work at Expo Osaka 2025 exhibition in Japan. Asharq Al-Awsat
Construction work at Expo Osaka 2025 exhibition in Japan. Asharq Al-Awsat
TT

Riyadh, Tokyo Seek to Expand Cooperation in Clean Energy Technology and Green Hydrogen

Construction work at Expo Osaka 2025 exhibition in Japan. Asharq Al-Awsat
Construction work at Expo Osaka 2025 exhibition in Japan. Asharq Al-Awsat

Tokyo has said it was willing to expand cooperation with Riyadh in areas such as new sensitive technologies, clean energy technology, green hydrogen and ammonia production, while working on a plan to increase trade with the Kingdom and deepen research and scientific cooperation.

Several departments in Japan's Ministry of Economy, Trade, and Industry told Asharq Al-Awsat that Japanese-Saudi dialogue on clean energy is ongoing, lauding the signing of a memorandum of understanding (MoU) in clean energy and clean ammonia in 2022, as well as an MoU on carbon recycling between the two countries.

The ministry told Asharq Al-Awsat that the objective is to achieve zero carbon by 2050 in Japan and by 2060 in Saudi Arabia. It said Saudi Arabia has natural resources in solar and wind energy, along with minerals that enable Japan to provide energy efficiency technology and materials, fostering integration between the two countries in the relevant fields.

It also said that Saudi Arabia is Japan's top destination for crude oil imports, accounting for 40%. The Japanese government will continue to cooperate in the energy sector, the ministry added. Additionally, the government is encouraging the private sector and Japanese companies to invest in the Kingdom, and expects to expand bilateral work in areas such as mining, clean energy, green hydrogen, and ammonia.

Professor Gento Mogi, Deputy Director of the Mohammed bin Salman Center for Future Sciences and Technology for Saudi-Japan Vision 2030 (MbSC2030) at the University of Tokyo, told Asharq Al-Awsat that the cooperation supported by the center goes beyond relying on trade, crude oil purchases, and technology products and cars. It includes training and development for human resources, academics, researchers, and scholarship students, with 16 projects involving 15 university professors.

According to Mogi, the University has dedicated part of its cooperation with institutions, centers, and academic institutes outside the university, and in Saudi Arabia, it is implementing a five-year initiative that will end in June 2025, with hopes of extending it for another five years.

Saudi-Japanese trade

The Japan External Trade Organization (JETRO) expects an increase in bilateral trade, indicating that Japan exported products worth $6.359 billion, including cars, technology, and electronics, while it imported from Saudi Arabia goods worth more than $34 billion, with 98% of that being crude oil.

JETRO revealed to Asharq Al-Awsat its plan to increase infrastructure products and establish smart cities to enhance cooperation between the two countries, saying Saudi Arabia's Vision 2030 has opened broad opportunities for collaboration between the countries.

JETRO also said that it is working to meet a rising Saudi demand for Japanese products, as well as an increasing interest in Saudi products. Joint exhibitions between companies in both countries are working to boost trade and demand for Saudi-Japanese products, it added.

The operations department of the Expo Osaka 2025 exhibition confirmed that Saudi Arabia will have a strong participation in the exhibition.