OPEC Urges Oil Producers to Increase Investment amid Shrinking Spare Oil Capacity

OPEC Secretary-General Mohammed Barkindo addresses a news conference in Vienna, Austria, October 24, 2016. REUTERS/Leonhard Foeger
OPEC Secretary-General Mohammed Barkindo addresses a news conference in Vienna, Austria, October 24, 2016. REUTERS/Leonhard Foeger
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OPEC Urges Oil Producers to Increase Investment amid Shrinking Spare Oil Capacity

OPEC Secretary-General Mohammed Barkindo addresses a news conference in Vienna, Austria, October 24, 2016. REUTERS/Leonhard Foeger
OPEC Secretary-General Mohammed Barkindo addresses a news conference in Vienna, Austria, October 24, 2016. REUTERS/Leonhard Foeger

OPEC Secretary-General Mohammed Barkindo urged oil producing companies to increase capabilities and reinforce investment to fulfill the future demand, at a time when there is a shrinkage in surplus energy.

Brent crude last week reached USD 86.74, the highest since 2014.

“We are estimating $11 trillion worth of investments that would be required to meet current and future demand up until 2040,” said Barkindo, on the sidelines of the India Energy Forum by CERAWEEK.

From around 14.5 million bpd in 2017, global oil demand is expected to increase to 111.7 million bpd by 2040, as per OPEC estimates, according to its latest report in September.

“In 2019, there is a possibility of larger imbalance due to growth in supply,” Barkindo said.

He added that India’s oil demand is expected to rise by 5.8 million barrels per day (bpd) by 2040, accounting for around 40% of the global demand rise. He added that India is projected to see the largest additional oil demand, growing at the fastest pace of 3.7 percent a year, by 2040.

The Russian government is no longer capping oil output increases by local producers, one of the country’s top energy companies Gazprom Neft said on Tuesday.

Deputy chief executive Vadim Yakovlev told a briefing in London that the company’s production was back at the levels it was pumping before Russia clinched a deal with OPEC to cut output last year, and was ready to produce more next year.

Gazprom Neft could potentially lift its oil production by a further 20,000 to 30,000 barrels per day (bpd) this year and add another 50,000 bpd next year, Yakovlev said.

“The oil market is well supplied. But there are big uncertainties regarding the end of the year with regards to Iran and Venezuela. We may have an opportunity to grow further,” Yakovlev told reporters.



Saudi Factories Surpass 2023 Targets, Boosting Product Competitiveness

A Saudi factory located in the industrial city of Asir in the southern region of the Kingdom (Asharq Al-Awsat)
A Saudi factory located in the industrial city of Asir in the southern region of the Kingdom (Asharq Al-Awsat)
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Saudi Factories Surpass 2023 Targets, Boosting Product Competitiveness

A Saudi factory located in the industrial city of Asir in the southern region of the Kingdom (Asharq Al-Awsat)
A Saudi factory located in the industrial city of Asir in the southern region of the Kingdom (Asharq Al-Awsat)

Saudi factories are increasingly adopting automation to improve product quality and competitiveness while cutting costs.
A total of 479 factories have completed the Smart Industry Readiness Index “SIRI” assessment, exceeding the Kingdom’s 2023 targets.
The Ministry of Industry and Mineral Resources started evaluating the second group of factories under the Future Factories Program in July 2023. This phase covers 260 factories, each with licensed capital over SAR 200 million ($53.3 million).
According to a recent report reviewed by Asharq Al-Awsat, the Ministry resolved 97 challenges last year and provided consultancy support to 17 factories to protect national industries from unfair competition.
In the 2023 Digital Transformation Measurement Program, the Ministry achieved 87.08% success and connected with over 67 government entities. It also launched several systems and websites to support its strategic goals.
Saudi Arabia’s mining sector achieved a 98% compliance rate in licensing, with 15 new mining sites designated last year.
The government launched a geological mapping project for the Arabian Shield, producing 271 reports and maps, and introduced a service to match petrochemical raw materials with industrial needs.
The Ministry of Industry and Mineral Resources reported a 10% increase in operational factories in 2023, from 10,518 in 2022 to 11,549. New licenses totaled 1,379, attracting over SAR 81 billion ($21.6 billion) in investments. Production began in 1,058 factories, with investments of SAR 45 billion ($12 billion).
By the end of December 2023, the total number of operational factories in Saudi Arabia reached around 11,549, with investments totaling SAR 1.541 trillion ($410.9 billion).
New licenses covered 25 industries, led by food production (244 licenses), non-metallic minerals (176), fabricated metals (165), and rubber and plastics (123).
National companies received the majority of new licenses (1,043), followed by foreign investments (194) and joint ventures (142).
Small enterprises received the most licenses (1,203), followed by medium-sized enterprises (158), micro-enterprises (15), and large enterprises (3).