Britain’s SDX in ‘Advanced Planning’ to Drill 12 Morocco Wells

A general view shows the Samir oil refinery in Mohamadia, Morocco, April 28, 2018. Image for illustrative purposes. REUTERS/Youssef Boudlal
A general view shows the Samir oil refinery in Mohamadia, Morocco, April 28, 2018. Image for illustrative purposes. REUTERS/Youssef Boudlal
TT

Britain’s SDX in ‘Advanced Planning’ to Drill 12 Morocco Wells

A general view shows the Samir oil refinery in Mohamadia, Morocco, April 28, 2018. Image for illustrative purposes. REUTERS/Youssef Boudlal
A general view shows the Samir oil refinery in Mohamadia, Morocco, April 28, 2018. Image for illustrative purposes. REUTERS/Youssef Boudlal

Planning for the drilling of 12 wells in Morocco is at an “advanced stage,” with the campaign targeted to begin in the fourth quarter of 2019 and complete in the first half of 2020, Britain’s SDX Energy PLC, a North Africa-focused oil and gas company, has announced.

All long lead items have been ordered and all key contracts finalized, SDX announced in a statement. The program will be targeting 15bcf of gross unrisked prospective resources at the Gharb Basin, north of Rabat, it said.

According to the company, its Morocco gas sales are now at an average of 745 boe/d.

The company's Moroccan acreage consists of five concessions, all of which are located in the Gharb Basin in northern Morocco: Sebou, Lalla Mimouna Nord, Gharb Centre, Lalla Mimouna Sud, and Moulay Bouchta Ouest, with the latter two secured by the firm during the first half of 2019.

In 2018, the company began selling natural gas to Peugeot, Extralait, and GPC Kenitra. During the first half of 2019, natural gas sales began to three additional customers: Setexam, Citic Dicastal and Omnium Plastic.

The six new customers have been increasing their consumption rates, with several expected to reach stabilized rates during the second half of the year, the statement added.



Moody's Upgrades Saudi Arabia's Credit Rating

Moody's indicated that the rating upgrade and stable outlook are results of the Kingdom's ongoing progress in economic diversification. Reuters
Moody's indicated that the rating upgrade and stable outlook are results of the Kingdom's ongoing progress in economic diversification. Reuters
TT

Moody's Upgrades Saudi Arabia's Credit Rating

Moody's indicated that the rating upgrade and stable outlook are results of the Kingdom's ongoing progress in economic diversification. Reuters
Moody's indicated that the rating upgrade and stable outlook are results of the Kingdom's ongoing progress in economic diversification. Reuters

The credit rating agency “Moody’s Ratings” upgraded Saudi Arabia’s credit rating to “Aa3” in local and foreign currency, with a “stable” outlook.
The agency indicated in its report that the rating upgrade and stable outlook are results of the Kingdom's ongoing progress in economic diversification and the robust growth of its non-oil sector. Over time, the advancements are expected to reduce Saudi Arabia’s exposure to oil market developments and long-term carbon transition on its economy and public finances.
The agency commended the Kingdom's financial planning within the fiscal space, emphasizing its commitment to prioritizing expenditure and enhancing the spending efficiency. Additionally, the government’s ongoing efforts to utilize available fiscal resources to diversify the economic base through transformative spending were highlighted as instrumental in supporting the sustainable development of the Kingdom's non-oil economy and maintaining a strong fiscal position.
In its report, the agency noted that the planning and commitment underpin its projection of a relatively stable fiscal deficit, which could range between 2%-3% of gross domestic product (GDP).
Moody's expected that the non-oil private-sector GDP of Saudi Arabia will expand by 4-5% in the coming years, positioning it among the highest in the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) region, an indication of continued progress in the diversification efforts reducing the Kingdom’s exposure to oil market developments.
In recent years, the Kingdom achieved multiple credit rating upgrades from global rating agencies. These advancements reflect the Kingdom's ongoing efforts toward economic transformation, supported by structural reforms and the adoption of fiscal policies that promote financial sustainability, enhance financial planning efficiency, and reinforce the Kingdom's strong and resilient fiscal position.