Saudi PIF Transfers Stakes in Food, Farm Companies to SALIC

Saudi PIF Transfers Stakes in Food, Farm Companies to SALIC
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Saudi PIF Transfers Stakes in Food, Farm Companies to SALIC

Saudi PIF Transfers Stakes in Food, Farm Companies to SALIC

Saudi Arabia’s Public Investment Fund (PIF) said Thursday that it has transferred its stakes in Almarai, the National Agricultural Development Co and the Saudi Fisheries Co to Saudi Agricultural and Livestock Investment Co (SALIC), a wholly-owned subsidiary of the PIF.

The transfer is aimed at leveraging synergies within its food and agriculture portfolio and enabling SALIC to stimulate growth in the sector, the PIF said in a statement on Thursday.

SALIC has extensive experience in managing food and agriculture investments, which contributes to food security in the kingdom.

The transfer is also expected to enable PIF to utilize SALIC’s strategic partnerships, technological and logistical capabilities to attain this stability.

The transfer announcement comes in line with PIF’s Strategy 2021-2025, which focuses on unlocking the capabilities of promising non-oil sectors to enhance the Kingdom's efforts to diversify revenue sources, including in the food and agriculture sector.

The Fund and its subsidiaries aim to contribute SAR1.2 trillion to non-oil GDP cumulatively by the end of 2025, through growth opportunities for strategic and vital sectors in the Kingdom.

Earlier this month, the PIF signed a $15 billion multi-currency revolving credit facility with a group of 17 banks, which it said gives it access to extra capital that can be deployed quickly when needed.

The new loan was provided by 17 banks from Asia, the Middle East, Europe, the United Kingdom and the United States, the PIF said in a statement.



EUROPE GAS-Prices Continue to Decline

Model of natural gas pipeline and Gazprom logo, July 18, 2022. REUTERS/Dado Ruvic/Illustration/File Photo
Model of natural gas pipeline and Gazprom logo, July 18, 2022. REUTERS/Dado Ruvic/Illustration/File Photo
TT

EUROPE GAS-Prices Continue to Decline

Model of natural gas pipeline and Gazprom logo, July 18, 2022. REUTERS/Dado Ruvic/Illustration/File Photo
Model of natural gas pipeline and Gazprom logo, July 18, 2022. REUTERS/Dado Ruvic/Illustration/File Photo

Dutch and British wholesale gas prices continued to declined on Tuesday morning on milder weather forecasts for next week, high wind speeds and stable supply.

The benchmark front-month contract at the Dutch TTF hub was down 0.61 euros at 46.65 euros per megawatt hour (MWh) at 0947 GMT, according to LSEG data.

The contract for March was down 0.52 euro at 46.63 euros/MWh.

In Britain, the front-month contract fell by 2.04 pence to 116.76 pence per therm.

In north-west Europe, although another cold snap is forecast from Friday over the weekend, the latest forecasts are showing milder temperatures than yesterday from Jan. 15, according to LSEG data, Reuters reported.

Wind speeds are expected to remain quite strong today, limiting gas demand.

However, in north-west Europe, gas-for-power demand is expected 36 million cubic metres (mcm) per day higher at 78 mcm/day on the day-ahead.

"Wind speeds are expected still high today, before dropping sharply tomorrow with the cold spell arriving," said LSEG gas analyst Saku Jussila.

In Britain, Peak wind generation is forecast at around 15.1 gigawatts (GW) today and 14.7 GW tomorrow, Elexon data showed.

Analysts at Engie EnergyScan said EU net storage withdrawals have slowed due to a more comfortable spot balance but the storage gap compared to last year remains high. On 5 January, EU gas stocks were 69.94% full on average, compared to 84.96% last year.

Looking further ahead, analysts at Jefferies expect a tight year for global gas markets due to project delays and higher-than-expected demand.

"European and Asian LNG spot gas prices in 2025 could surpass those of 2024, driven by Europe's increased gas injection needs and the loss of Russian exports outpacing the expected growth in global LNG supply," they said.

"Post 2025, the market is expected to loosen with an additional 175 million tonnes of new supply coming online between 2026 and 2030, primarily from the US and Qatar," they added.

In the European carbon market, the benchmark contract was down 0.91 euro at 73.45 euros a metric ton.