Aramco Warns Employees Against Taking Pictures of Sites

A metal part of a damaged tank is seen at the damaged site of Saudi Aramco oil facility in Abqaiq, Saudi Arabia, September 20, 2019. (Reuters)
A metal part of a damaged tank is seen at the damaged site of Saudi Aramco oil facility in Abqaiq, Saudi Arabia, September 20, 2019. (Reuters)
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Aramco Warns Employees Against Taking Pictures of Sites

A metal part of a damaged tank is seen at the damaged site of Saudi Aramco oil facility in Abqaiq, Saudi Arabia, September 20, 2019. (Reuters)
A metal part of a damaged tank is seen at the damaged site of Saudi Aramco oil facility in Abqaiq, Saudi Arabia, September 20, 2019. (Reuters)

Saudi Aramco has renewed its work on banned facilities and operating sites, as well as sites under construction in the company.

The company issued a statement warning its employees against uploading, sending, or exchanging any photographs or videos of the restricted and under construction areas on social media.

The statement indicated that this action is strictly prohibited unless the required approval is taken.

Aramco cautioned its employees that in the event of non-compliance, the company will take firm disciplinary action.

The company’s reminder comes just days after Saudi Aramco's Abqaiq plant was hit by a terrorist attack that caused a major fire at the plant, the world's largest oil refinery, as well as another attack on an oil facility in Khurais located on the road between al-Ihsa and Riyadh.

Although Saudi Aramco has been able to control the attacks, the company's industrial security department preferred to be careful by reminding its employees of the ban and tightening security in this regard.

Meanwhile, Aramco hired UBS Group and Deutsche Bank as book-runners for its initial public offering, two sources familiar with the matter said.

This is an indication that the deal is moving ahead despite the recent attack on Aramco’s oil facilities.

The company started informing banks about the bookrunners’ roles, one of the sources said.

Reuters revealed that Aramco finalized nine banks for top roles as global coordinators in recent weeks, and more banks are expected to be named in junior roles, the sources said.

Aramco has also added Barclays and BNP Paribas as bookrunners, Bloomberg cited people familiar with the matter.

Doubts had emerged about the timeline of the potentially $20 billion domestic leg of the IPO among investors after last Saturday’s attacks on two sites that usually process and clean up about 5.7 million barrels per day (bpd).

Aramco said that by the end of September it will resume full crude output at Abqaiq and Khurais.

The company’s meeting with analysts, ahead of the expected IPO in late November, is also scheduled for early next week, two other sources said.

Aramco’s listing is the first step toward an eventual sale of up to 5 percent, with another 1 percent expected to be sold domestically next year, followed by an international listing.

Initial hopes for an international listing dissipated when the share sale was halted last year amid a debate over an overseas venue and valuation.

Aramco had said the delay was due to its deal to acquire a 70 percent stake in petrochemicals maker Saudi Basic Industries Corp. Crown Prince Mohammed put a $2 trillion valuation on the company in early 2016.



UAE, Egypt Stress Need for Unimpeded Delivery of Aid to Gaza

UAE President Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan and Egyptian President Abdel Fattah al-Sisi meet in Abu Dhabi on Thursday. (WAM)
UAE President Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan and Egyptian President Abdel Fattah al-Sisi meet in Abu Dhabi on Thursday. (WAM)
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UAE, Egypt Stress Need for Unimpeded Delivery of Aid to Gaza

UAE President Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan and Egyptian President Abdel Fattah al-Sisi meet in Abu Dhabi on Thursday. (WAM)
UAE President Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan and Egyptian President Abdel Fattah al-Sisi meet in Abu Dhabi on Thursday. (WAM)

The United Arab Emirates and Egypt stressed on Thursday the need for the unimpeded delivery of humanitarian aid to Gaza.

UAE President Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan received in Abu Dhabi on Thursday Egyptian President Abdel Fattah al-Sisi for talks on bilateral relations and means to bolster them to meet their nations’ aspirations.

They reviewed the latest regional and international developments and welcomed the Gaza ceasefire and prisoner and hostage exchange.

They underlined their keenness on the full implementation of the deal to help end the bloodshed of the Palestinian people.

Both leaders reaffirmed the need for continued efforts to implement the two-state solution in the Palestinian-Israeli conflict, recognizing it as the pathway to achieving lasting and comprehensive peace and stability in the region.

Sheikh Mohamed hailed Egypt’s strenuous mediation efforts to reach a ceasefire, said an Egyptian presidency spokesman.

The leaders also addressed the developments in Lebanon, welcoming the election of Joseph Aoun as president, hoping it will help restore stability in the country.

They emphasized the need to consolidate the ceasefire in Lebanon to protect its people.

On Syria, Sheikh Mohamed and Sisi underscored their keenness on the country’s unity and stability. They stressed the importance of the launch of a comprehensive and inclusive political process.

The leaders discussed meens to restore stability in Sudan, Libya, Yemen and Somalia.