Saudi Arabia: 90% of Jazan Refinery Project is Completed

Saudi Minister of Energy, Industry and Mineral Resources, Engineer Khalid al-Falih during his visit to Jazan Refinery (Aramco)
Saudi Minister of Energy, Industry and Mineral Resources, Engineer Khalid al-Falih during his visit to Jazan Refinery (Aramco)
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Saudi Arabia: 90% of Jazan Refinery Project is Completed

Saudi Minister of Energy, Industry and Mineral Resources, Engineer Khalid al-Falih during his visit to Jazan Refinery (Aramco)
Saudi Minister of Energy, Industry and Mineral Resources, Engineer Khalid al-Falih during his visit to Jazan Refinery (Aramco)

Saudi Aramco announced on Wednesday that over 90 percent of Jazan refinery project has been completed.

The refinery is expected to enter operation and production next year, with the recent rearrangement of important facilities in the project, such as the gasification and power joint venture announced by the company on August 12.

Air Products will own at least 55 percent of the joint venture, with Aramco and ACWA Power owning the balance.

The venture will own and operate the facility under a 25-year contract for a fixed monthly fee. Saudi Aramco will supply feedstock to the JV, and the JV will produce power, hydrogen and other utilities for Saudi Aramco.

Saudi Minister of Energy, Industry and Mineral Resources Engineer Khalid al-Falih visited Jazan Economic City (JEC) to review the progress of the project.

The Minister toured the facilities of Aramco refinery complex, during which he met with the staff who briefed him on the latest developments.

Jazan Refinery and terminal at JEC is a megaproject that will process heavy and medium crude oil to create liquefied petroleum gas, sulfur, asphalt, benzene and paraxylene. The new venture will add 400,000 barrels per day of refining capacity.

The consortium will increase job opportunities and transfer the most advanced technologies in this field to the country, and enable Saudi talent to employ this technology for the first time.



Gold Rebounds on Dip Buying; US-China Trade Talks in Focus

A one kilogram gold cast bars with 99.99% purity is pressed and ready for sale at the ABC Refinery in Sydney, Australia, Wednesday, April 30, 2025. (AP Photo/Mark Baker)
A one kilogram gold cast bars with 99.99% purity is pressed and ready for sale at the ABC Refinery in Sydney, Australia, Wednesday, April 30, 2025. (AP Photo/Mark Baker)
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Gold Rebounds on Dip Buying; US-China Trade Talks in Focus

A one kilogram gold cast bars with 99.99% purity is pressed and ready for sale at the ABC Refinery in Sydney, Australia, Wednesday, April 30, 2025. (AP Photo/Mark Baker)
A one kilogram gold cast bars with 99.99% purity is pressed and ready for sale at the ABC Refinery in Sydney, Australia, Wednesday, April 30, 2025. (AP Photo/Mark Baker)

Gold prices firmed on Friday as investors bought bullion following an earlier dip in the session, while markets turned their focus to US-China trade talks this weekend.

Spot gold was up 0.3% to $3,316.29 an ounce, as of 0448 GMT. US gold futures firmed 0.5% to $3,321.60.

Spot gold retreated earlier in the session, touching a low of $3,274.38, as US President Donald Trump announced a trade deal with the UK on Thursday.

Trump and British Prime Minister Keir Starmer announced a "breakthrough deal". A 10% tariff on goods imported from the UK remains in place, while Britain agreed to lower its tariffs to 1.8% from 5.1% and provide greater access to US goods.

"Buying gold on dips is still in vogue, which is so far limiting the downside moves despite safe haven demand drying up to a degree on the US-UK trade deal," KCM Trade Chief Market Analyst Tim Waterer said.

"How the US-China trade talks develop could be key in determining which side of $3,300 gold trades at next week."

Trump also said he expects there to be substantive negotiations between the US and China on trade this weekend and predicted that punitive US tariffs on Beijing of 145% would likely come down, Reuters said.

Gold, traditionally seen as a hedge against economic and political uncertainties, thrives in a low interest rate environment.

Several US Federal Reserve officials are due to speak later in the day for further insights into the economy and the central bank's policy path. This comes after the Fed held interest rates steady on Wednesday and warned of rising inflation and unemployment risks.

Meanwhile, Indian gold dealers offered discounts this week amid weak demand as a softer rupee lifted local prices to near-record highs, while buying in China picked up after a holiday.

Spot silver was steady at $32.48 an ounce, platinum rose 0.5% to $980.55 and palladium gained 0.2% to $978.21.