Saudi Arabia Calls for Integrating Circular Carbon Methods to Manufacturing, Production Systems

Cars drive past the Kingdom Centre Tower in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, January 30, 2018. REUTERS/Faisal Al Nasser
Cars drive past the Kingdom Centre Tower in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, January 30, 2018. REUTERS/Faisal Al Nasser
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Saudi Arabia Calls for Integrating Circular Carbon Methods to Manufacturing, Production Systems

Cars drive past the Kingdom Centre Tower in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, January 30, 2018. REUTERS/Faisal Al Nasser
Cars drive past the Kingdom Centre Tower in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, January 30, 2018. REUTERS/Faisal Al Nasser

Saudi Energy Minister Prince Abdulaziz bin Salman stressed that the kingdom was not part of the climate change crisis, emphasizing that the Kingdom is working seriously towards leading the world to a life free of carbon and gas emissions.

Underlining that Saudi Arabia was working towards a solution for climate change, Prince Abdulaziz affirmed that capturing Carbon will be the critical technology everyone must work on and collaborate on implementing.

During a seminar held in Riyadh on Wednesday, Prince Abdulaziz explained that several gases, other than CO2, are being emitted, such as methane.

For Saudi Arabia’s part, the energy minister reaffirmed that the Kingdom has the capabilities needed to lead an appropriate solution.

“Compared to the US, Canada, Britain, Russia, Mexico, Brazil, Venezuela, and other countries, our numbers show that we stand far from the emissions of these countries,” said Prince Abdulaziz, noting that the Kingdom is among the promoters of green economies.

He stressed the need to enhance international cooperation on employing the latest technology to help integrate circular carbon systems at all levels, enable industrial integration, prevent emissions, and create climate-friendly structures that support sustainable development.

Prince Abdulaziz stressed that Riyadh had called on all world countries to adopt this initiative to achieve carbon neutrality.

Prince Abdulaziz’s remarks were given at a virtual symposium entitled “Circular Carbon Economy: Total Carbon Management” organized by the Saudi Industrial Development Fund (SIDF).

The seminar brought together clean energy researchers, policymakers, regulators, and academics for practical discussions on policy and regulatory reforms needed to advance clean energy technologies and innovation successfully.

It tackled topics related to manufacturing and production systems integrating circular carbon systems at all levels.

Prince Abdulaziz stressed that Saudi Arabia would not be part of the global problem but instead will be at the forefront of work towards a solution and environmentally friendly activities.



Syria Signs New 30-year Deal with French Shipping Giant CMA CGM

Syrian President Ahmed al-Sharaa (C) looks on as Joe Dakkak, the regional director of French shipping company CMA GGM, (L) and Latakia port director Ahmed Mustafa sign an agreement in Damascus on May 1, 2025. (AFP)
Syrian President Ahmed al-Sharaa (C) looks on as Joe Dakkak, the regional director of French shipping company CMA GGM, (L) and Latakia port director Ahmed Mustafa sign an agreement in Damascus on May 1, 2025. (AFP)
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Syria Signs New 30-year Deal with French Shipping Giant CMA CGM

Syrian President Ahmed al-Sharaa (C) looks on as Joe Dakkak, the regional director of French shipping company CMA GGM, (L) and Latakia port director Ahmed Mustafa sign an agreement in Damascus on May 1, 2025. (AFP)
Syrian President Ahmed al-Sharaa (C) looks on as Joe Dakkak, the regional director of French shipping company CMA GGM, (L) and Latakia port director Ahmed Mustafa sign an agreement in Damascus on May 1, 2025. (AFP)

Syria on Thursday signed a 30-year deal with French shipping and logistics group CMA CGM that includes building a new berth at Latakia port and investing another 230 million euros ($260 million) over the course of the partnership, a company official said.

Latakia port is Syria's main maritime gateway. CMA CGM began managing Latakia's container terminal in 2009, under now-ousted Syrian leader Bashar al-Assad. The contract was most recently renewed in October 2024, also under Assad, for 30 more years.

After the opposition toppled Assad in December, the new authorities began talks on an amended deal. It was signed on Thursday by officials from the company and from Syria's port authority.

"CMA CGM has signed today the concession of the port of Latakia for a 30-year contract. We are committed to modernizing and expanding the terminal to meet growing demand and strengthen supply chains in the region," Joe Dakkak, general manager at CMA CGM LEVANT, told Reuters.

Dakkak told local broadcaster Syria TV that the agreement included a 230-million-euro investment, as well as a project to build a new, deeper berth at Latakia in order to increase activity at the port.

A person familiar with the deal said CMA CGM would invest 30 million euros in the first year and the rest in the following four years. The person said the berth would be 1.5 kilometers (0.9 miles) long and 17 meters deep, with advanced infrastructure.

CMA CGM is controlled by Franco-Lebanese billionaire Rodolphe Saade and other members of his family, which has roots in Syria.

A Syrian source familiar with the negotiations had earlier told Reuters that Syrian authorities had hoped to negotiate a larger share of the revenues than the previous contract as well as a shorter timeframe for the terminal lease.