New Regulations of Mining Investment Law Come into Effect in Saudi Arabia

A view shows Maaden Aluminum in Ras Al Khair, Saudi Arabia November 23, 2016. (Reuters)
A view shows Maaden Aluminum in Ras Al Khair, Saudi Arabia November 23, 2016. (Reuters)
TT

New Regulations of Mining Investment Law Come into Effect in Saudi Arabia

A view shows Maaden Aluminum in Ras Al Khair, Saudi Arabia November 23, 2016. (Reuters)
A view shows Maaden Aluminum in Ras Al Khair, Saudi Arabia November 23, 2016. (Reuters)

The Saudi new mining investment law came into force on Friday and aims to attract foreign investors to the sector and boost the mineral industry in Saudi Arabia as part of Vision 2030.

Bandar Al-Khorayef, Minister of Industry and Mineral Resources, said that the new regulations that were introduced to the law would have several positive effects that would benefit the investors and the investment environment in the long-term.

In remarks on Friday, the minister that the new regulations would ensure the sector governance, enhance transparency and investor confidence in the sector and achieve its sustainability.

He added that the regulations would cover minerals exports, investment stimulation in value chains and the development of controls to support licensed investors and enhance efficiency of licensing measures to become fully digital.

The law comes in line with the objectives of Vision 2030 to diversify non-oil economic resources and the National Industrial Development and Logistics Program (NIDLP).

Meanwhile, the Economic and Energy Committee of the Shura Council recently discussed the annual report of the Ministry of Industry and Mineral Resources, which included the mechanisms to encourage and stimulate the establishment of factories in cities and regions to support sustainability in the industrial sector and to address different challenges.

In a report issued by the National Center for Industrial Information, the ministry noted that up to October the number of factories throughout the Kingdom reached 9,563, with a capital amounting to 1.086 trillion riyals (USD 266 billion). The factories perform more than 24 industrial activities, leading with the non-metallic minerals sector.



Oil Falls from Highest since October as Dollar Strengthens

People stand on the the pier with offshore oil and gas platform Esther in the distance on January 5, 2025 in Seal Beach, California. Mario Tama/Getty Images/AFP
People stand on the the pier with offshore oil and gas platform Esther in the distance on January 5, 2025 in Seal Beach, California. Mario Tama/Getty Images/AFP
TT

Oil Falls from Highest since October as Dollar Strengthens

People stand on the the pier with offshore oil and gas platform Esther in the distance on January 5, 2025 in Seal Beach, California. Mario Tama/Getty Images/AFP
People stand on the the pier with offshore oil and gas platform Esther in the distance on January 5, 2025 in Seal Beach, California. Mario Tama/Getty Images/AFP

Oil prices dipped on Monday amid a strong US dollar ahead of key economic data by the US Federal Reserve and US payrolls later in the week.
Brent crude futures slid 28 cents, or 0.4%, to $76.23 a barrel by 0800 GMT after settling on Friday at its highest since Oct. 14.
US West Texas Intermediate crude was down 27 cents, or 0.4%, at $73.69 a barrel after closing on Friday at its highest since Oct. 11, Reuters reported.
Oil posted five-session gains previously with hopes of rising demand following colder weather in the Northern Hemisphere and more fiscal stimulus by China to revitalize its faltering economy.
However, the strength of the dollar is on investor's radar, Priyanka Sachdeva, a senior market analyst at Phillip Nova, wrote in a report on Monday.
The dollar stayed close to a two-year peak on Monday. A stronger dollar makes it more expensive to buy the greenback-priced commodity.
Investors are also awaiting economic news for more clues on the Federal Reserve's rate outlook and energy consumption.
Minutes of the Fed's last meeting are due on Wednesday and the December payrolls report will come on Friday.
There are some future concerns about Iranian and Russian oil shipments as the potential for stronger sanctions on both producers looms.
The Biden administration plans to impose more sanctions on Russia over its war on Ukraine, taking aim at its oil revenues with action against tankers carrying Russian crude, two sources with knowledge of the matter said on Sunday.
Goldman Sachs expects Iran's production and exports to fall by the second quarter as a result of expected policy changes and tighter sanctions from the administration of incoming US President Donald Trump.
Output at the OPEC producer could drop by 300,000 barrels per day to 3.25 million bpd by second quarter, they said.
The US oil rig count, an indicator of future output, fell by one to 482 last week, a weekly report from energy services firm Baker Hughes showed on Friday.
Still, the global oil market is clouded by a supply surplus this year as a rise in non-OPEC supplies is projected by analysts to largely offset global demand increase, also with the possibility of more production in the US under Trump.