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)
TT

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.



Türkiye Works to Halt Circulation of Fake US Dollars

FILE PHOTO: A money changer counts US dollar bills, with Turkish lira banknotes in the background, at an currency exchange office in central Istanbul, Türkiye, August 21, 2015. REUTERS/Murad Sezer/File Photo
FILE PHOTO: A money changer counts US dollar bills, with Turkish lira banknotes in the background, at an currency exchange office in central Istanbul, Türkiye, August 21, 2015. REUTERS/Murad Sezer/File Photo
TT

Türkiye Works to Halt Circulation of Fake US Dollars

FILE PHOTO: A money changer counts US dollar bills, with Turkish lira banknotes in the background, at an currency exchange office in central Istanbul, Türkiye, August 21, 2015. REUTERS/Murad Sezer/File Photo
FILE PHOTO: A money changer counts US dollar bills, with Turkish lira banknotes in the background, at an currency exchange office in central Istanbul, Türkiye, August 21, 2015. REUTERS/Murad Sezer/File Photo

Turkish authorities were checking currency exchanges and cash dispenser machines on Thursday to help avert any damage from the circulation of counterfeit US dollars, which has prompted a number of banks to stop accepting some of the bills.
The central bank said it was working with judicial authorities to address the counterfeiting issue and had shared a report and guidance with lenders after having examined the fake US banknotes, Reuters reported.
Though it was unclear how much counterfeit currency was in circulation across the country, several banking sources said that several foreign exchange offices and banks were no longer accepting some US dollars.
A source with knowledge of the matter said there were no related problems with the financial system.
Several banking sources have said some $50 bills and $100 bills are suspected of being counterfeit and are not currently detected by money-counting machines.
The Turkish Banking Association said these machines as well as cash dispenser machines, or ATMs, were being checked and updated to halt any further circulation of counterfeit bills.
The source said a planned rapid system-wide update to money-counting machines would make detection possible.
Separately, a prosecutor's office in Istanbul launched an investigation into the issue, broadcaster NTV reported.