ADNOC Invests $318 Million to Connect Smart Wells at BU Hasa Oilfield

The Bu Hasa asset is located 200 kilometers south of Abu Dhabi city. It is one of ADNOC’s oldest oil fields that have been producing since 1965. - WAM
The Bu Hasa asset is located 200 kilometers south of Abu Dhabi city. It is one of ADNOC’s oldest oil fields that have been producing since 1965. - WAM
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ADNOC Invests $318 Million to Connect Smart Wells at BU Hasa Oilfield

The Bu Hasa asset is located 200 kilometers south of Abu Dhabi city. It is one of ADNOC’s oldest oil fields that have been producing since 1965. - WAM
The Bu Hasa asset is located 200 kilometers south of Abu Dhabi city. It is one of ADNOC’s oldest oil fields that have been producing since 1965. - WAM

The Abu Dhabi National Oil Company (ADNOC) announced Tuesday the details of an investment worth to $318 million (AED1.16 billion) to connect newly drilled smart wells to the main production facilities at Bu Hasa, which will sustain production capacity of 650,000 barrels per day (bpd) at ADNOC’s largest onshore asset.

The engineering, procurement and construction (EPC) contract has been awarded in two packages by ADNOC’s subsidiary, ADNOC Onshore, state news agency WAM reported.

The first package is valued at up to $158.6 million (AED582 million) and has been awarded to China Petroleum Pipeline Engineering Co. Ltd, while the second, with a value of up to $159.1 million (AED 583.9 million) - has been awarded to Robt Stone (ME) LLC.

The contracts's duration is up to three years, with the option of a two-year extension.

In this regard, Yaser Saeed Almazrouei, ADNOC Upstream Executive Director, said: "This EPC award demonstrates how ADNOC is leveraging advanced technologies, such as smart wells with state-of-the-art remote capabilities, to drive higher performance from our assets and resources, and to generate additional value."

"The award underpins our strategic objectives to expand production capacity and create a more profitable upstream business with over half of the contract value flowing back into the UAE’s economy, supporting local businesses and stimulating economic growth."

According to WAM, the EPC contract will see up to 260 conventional and non-conventional smart wells installed, which enable remote operations. The installed tie-ins will be different from traditional tie-ins previously used by ADNOC Onshore, as the contractors will procure all required equipment on an upfront basis allowing for faster construction and well hand-over.

In 2018, ADNOC awarded a contract for the Bu Hasa Integrated Field Development Project (BUIFDP) to increase the production capacity of the asset to 650,000 bpd and sustain long-term production as part of its strategy to expand its crude oil production capacity to 5 million bpd by 2030. This new award builds on the substantial progress made to date and will enable ADNOC Onshore to unlock greater value from the asset.



Saudi Arabia Reinforces Global Mining Leadership at PDAC 2026 in Canada

Al-Belushi noted that the Kingdom has offered over 46,000 km² for exploration - SPA
Al-Belushi noted that the Kingdom has offered over 46,000 km² for exploration - SPA
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Saudi Arabia Reinforces Global Mining Leadership at PDAC 2026 in Canada

Al-Belushi noted that the Kingdom has offered over 46,000 km² for exploration - SPA
Al-Belushi noted that the Kingdom has offered over 46,000 km² for exploration - SPA

Saudi Arabia participated in the Prospectors and Developers Association of Canada (PDAC) convention, held March 1–4, 2026, highlighting exploration and mining opportunities in the Kingdom built on vast geological data and supported by a reformed regulatory framework.

On the sidelines of the conference, Deputy Minister of Industry and Mineral Resources for Mineral Resources Management Abdulrahman Al-Belushi, delivered keynote remarks at the Saudi Showcase titled “KSA: The Future Hub for Global Mineral Processing,” highlighting the Kingdom’s transformation from an emerging jurisdiction to a top global mining destination.

Al-Belushi emphasized that Saudi Arabia’s $2.5 trillion mineral wealth, modern regulatory framework, transparent licensing rounds, large-scale geological mapping program covering 700,000 km² of the Arabian Shield, and its world-class mine-to-market facilities provide a strong foundation for global investors seeking long-term opportunities across the mining sector, SPA reported.

During his participation at the International Mines Ministers Summit (IMMS), Al-Belushi highlighted the importance of global partnerships to meet rising mineral demand and shared details of the Future Minerals Forum’s Ministerial Roundtable Initiative, which promotes economic development, responsible supply, and capacity building across the mining sector.

Al-Belushi noted that the Kingdom has offered over 46,000 km² for exploration and is actively addressing financing gaps through a suite of competitive incentives, including the Exploration Enablement Program to support early-stage investment.

He also highlighted ongoing talent development initiatives, such as the recently launched Saudi School of Mines at the fifth Future Minerals Forum in January, alongside more than 80 years of geological data made digitally accessible to investors through the National Geological Database (NGD).

Throughout PDAC 2026, the Saudi delegation engaged in a series of bilateral meetings with global mining executives, investors, and institutional partners to accelerate collaboration across exploration, mining services, processing, and downstream integration.

By combining governance reform, large-scale geological data, financial risk-sharing mechanisms, and integrated mine-to-market infrastructure, Saudi Arabia is positioning itself as a strategic partner in strengthening global mineral supply chains.

Saudi Arabia’s participation at PDAC affirms that the Kingdom’s mining sector has moved from an emerging market to a competitive global destination. Through a modernized regulatory framework, extensive geological data, and competitive incentives, the Kingdom continues to strengthen its position as a trusted and preferred destination for mining investment—a reliable partner in building resilient and sustainable mineral supply chains.


S&P Global: UK Consumers Hit by Worries Over War in Iran

A man shops in a supermarket in Chanverrie, France, October 16, 2024. REUTERS/Stephane Mahe
A man shops in a supermarket in Chanverrie, France, October 16, 2024. REUTERS/Stephane Mahe
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S&P Global: UK Consumers Hit by Worries Over War in Iran

A man shops in a supermarket in Chanverrie, France, October 16, 2024. REUTERS/Stephane Mahe
A man shops in a supermarket in Chanverrie, France, October 16, 2024. REUTERS/Stephane Mahe

British consumers have turned their least confident since the start of last year following the outbreak of war in the Middle East, financial data firm S&P Global said on Monday in an early sign of the potential impact of the conflict on the economy.

S&P Global's Consumer Sentiment Index - based on a survey conducted ⁠March 5-9 - dropped ⁠to 44.1 in March from 44.8 in February, its lowest since January 2025.

"A marked deterioration of consumer sentiment in March means we are seeing the first ⁠concrete signs of the war in the Middle East damaging the UK economy," Maryam Baluch, an economist at S&P Global Market Intelligence, said, according to Reuters.

Households were the most downbeat about their financial prospects since December 2023 and the wariest about making big purchases in 14 months, the firm said.

The Bank ⁠of ⁠England, along with private economists, is watching for the impact of the US-Israeli war with Iran on the economy, including any hit to consumer spending as the rise in global energy prices threatens to push up inflation.

The BoE is likely to delay a previously expected interest rate cut on Thursday.


Gold Falls as Inflation Fears Pressure Fed Rate-cut Outlook

AFP_96 Gold bars weighing 1000 grams each are displayed at the Austrian Gold and Silver Refinery _Oegussa_ in Vienna
AFP_96 Gold bars weighing 1000 grams each are displayed at the Austrian Gold and Silver Refinery _Oegussa_ in Vienna
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Gold Falls as Inflation Fears Pressure Fed Rate-cut Outlook

AFP_96 Gold bars weighing 1000 grams each are displayed at the Austrian Gold and Silver Refinery _Oegussa_ in Vienna
AFP_96 Gold bars weighing 1000 grams each are displayed at the Austrian Gold and Silver Refinery _Oegussa_ in Vienna

Gold prices dipped on Monday, pressured by concerns that surging oil costs could stoke inflation further and prompt a more hawkish policy stance by major central banks including the US Federal Reserve, dulling the appeal of the non-yielding asset.

Spot gold fell 0.7% to $4,983.17 per ounce, as of 0944 GMT. US gold futures for ‌April delivery ‌fell 1.5% to $4,987.30.

"The gold market has moved its ‌focus ⁠from looking at ⁠the implications of the Hormuz trade closure, and towards implications of longer-term inflation," said Bernard Dahdah, an analyst at Natixis.

"Higher oil prices mean higher inflation and this has repercussions on the Fed. The Fed could pivot, stop cutting rates and that puts downward pressure on gold prices."

Oil held above $100 a ⁠barrel, up more than 40% this month ‌to its highest levels since 2022, ‌after US-Israeli strikes on Iran prompted Tehran to halt shipments through ‌the Strait of Hormuz.

US President Donald Trump on Sunday pressed ‌allies to help secure the Strait of Hormuz as Iranian forces continue attacks on the vital waterway amid the US-Israeli war on Iran, now in its third week.

The Fed will meet this week ‌for a two-day policy meeting, where it is widely expected to hold interest rates steady.

Other ⁠central ⁠banks including the European Central Bank, the Bank of England and the Bank of Japan will also meet this week, with the focus on policymakers' assessment of the Iran war on inflation, growth and future policies.

"But we expect central banks to be watchful of inflation risks without making knee-jerk policy rate hikes," UBS said in a note.

"In addition, the longer the US-Iran conflict goes on, the higher the risk of negative economic impacts, which should support hedging demand for gold."

Elsewhere, spot silver fell 2.6% to $78.46 per ounce. Spot platinum held steady at $2,024.85 and palladium slid 0.5% to $1,542.92.