Saudi Arabia to Adopt New Oil Strategy in 3 Months

Energy Minister Prince Abdulaziz bin Salman during Energy Entrepreneurs Forum, Riyadh (Imran Haidar)
Energy Minister Prince Abdulaziz bin Salman during Energy Entrepreneurs Forum, Riyadh (Imran Haidar)
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Saudi Arabia to Adopt New Oil Strategy in 3 Months

Energy Minister Prince Abdulaziz bin Salman during Energy Entrepreneurs Forum, Riyadh (Imran Haidar)
Energy Minister Prince Abdulaziz bin Salman during Energy Entrepreneurs Forum, Riyadh (Imran Haidar)

Saudi Arabia is working on a new strategy for the energy sector to be launched within three months, announced Energy Minister Prince Abdulaziz bin Salman during Energy Entrepreneurs Forum organized by Asharqia Chamber of Commerce and Industry in Dammam.

The Minister added that the Ministry aims to link all activities and initiatives within one system.

He explained that the Jafurah field has political, economic, national, and social importance, adding that the numbers on the field capabilities were underestimated.

Saudi Arabia aims to reach 90 percent of production from gas and renewable energy and the Jafurah field will enable the Kingdom to convert the current power stations from oil to gas, which is a rationalization of fuel, announced the Minister.

In his speech, Prince Abdulaziz explained that in order to produce electricity, the country uses 688,000 barrels of liquid fuel instead of internally burning them at a low price that can be exported abroad at international prices.

He said this trend would reduce the cost of producing electricity, and thus gradually lower the tariffs.

Regarding local content, Prince Abdulaziz stressed that it covers security and political aspects by providing needs from within, adding that the main goal is to maximize the benefit of all government or companies' expenditures.

He also discussed the program for the sustainability of oil demand, which was launched earlier this month and executed by 17 parties including ministries, agencies, companies, and specialized research centers.

During the launch of the program established under the Higher Committee for Hydrocarbons, chaired by Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Defense, the Minister said this was one of the most important areas to increase the conversion of oil into chemicals given the rapid growth of the petrochemical sector.



Oil Up as Israel, Hezbollah Trade Accusations of Ceasefire Violation

FILE - An aurora borealis, also known as the northern lights, makes an appearance over pumpjacks as they draw out oil and gas from well heads near Cremona, Alberta, Thursday, Oct. 10, 2024. (Jeff McIntosh/The Canadian Press via AP, File)
FILE - An aurora borealis, also known as the northern lights, makes an appearance over pumpjacks as they draw out oil and gas from well heads near Cremona, Alberta, Thursday, Oct. 10, 2024. (Jeff McIntosh/The Canadian Press via AP, File)
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Oil Up as Israel, Hezbollah Trade Accusations of Ceasefire Violation

FILE - An aurora borealis, also known as the northern lights, makes an appearance over pumpjacks as they draw out oil and gas from well heads near Cremona, Alberta, Thursday, Oct. 10, 2024. (Jeff McIntosh/The Canadian Press via AP, File)
FILE - An aurora borealis, also known as the northern lights, makes an appearance over pumpjacks as they draw out oil and gas from well heads near Cremona, Alberta, Thursday, Oct. 10, 2024. (Jeff McIntosh/The Canadian Press via AP, File)

Oil prices ticked up on Thursday after Israel and Lebanon’s Hezbollah traded accusations that their ceasefire had been violated, and as Israeli tanks fired on south Lebanon.

OPEC+ also delayed by a few days a meeting likely to extend production cuts.

Brent crude futures edged up by 30 cents, or 0.4%, to $73.13 a barrel by 1741 GMT. US West Texas Intermediate crude futures were up 23 cents, 0.3%, at $68.93. Trading was thin because of the US Thanksgiving holiday, Reuters reported.
Israel's military said the ceasefire was violated after what it called suspects, some in vehicles, arrived at several areas in the southern zone.
The deal, which took effect on Wednesday, was intended to allow people in both countries to start returning to homes in border areas shattered by 14 months of fighting.
The Middle East is one of the world's major oil-producing regions, and while the ongoing conflict has not so far not impacted supply it has been reflected in a risk premium for traders.
Elsewhere, OPEC+, comprising the Organization of the Petroleum Exporting Countries and allies including Russia, delayed its next policy meeting to Dec. 5 from Dec. 1 to avoid a conflict with another event.
Also supporting prices, OPEC+ sources have said there will again be discussion over another delay to an oil output increase scheduled for January.
"It's highly unlikely they are going to announce an increase production at this meeting," said Rory Johnston, analyst at Commodity Context.
The group pumps about half the world's oil but has maintained production cuts to support prices. It hopes to unwind those cuts, but weak global demand has forced it to delay the start of gradual increases.
A further delay has mostly been factored in to oil prices already, said Suvro Sarkar at DBS Bank. "The only question is whether it's a one-month pushback, or three, or even longer."
Depressing prices slightly, US gasoline stocks rose 3.3 million barrels in the week ending Nov. 22, the US Energy Information Administration said on Wednesday, countering expectations of a small draw in fuel stocks ahead of holiday travel.
Slowing fuel demand growth in top consumers China and the US has weighed on oil prices this year.