Abdulaziz bin Salman: Energy Security Essential to Growth, Facing Climate Challenges

Saudi Energy Minister Prince Abdulaziz bin Salman during his participation on Wednesday in the LEAP Conference (Photo: Bashir Saleh)
Saudi Energy Minister Prince Abdulaziz bin Salman during his participation on Wednesday in the LEAP Conference (Photo: Bashir Saleh)
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Abdulaziz bin Salman: Energy Security Essential to Growth, Facing Climate Challenges

Saudi Energy Minister Prince Abdulaziz bin Salman during his participation on Wednesday in the LEAP Conference (Photo: Bashir Saleh)
Saudi Energy Minister Prince Abdulaziz bin Salman during his participation on Wednesday in the LEAP Conference (Photo: Bashir Saleh)

Saudi Energy Minister Prince Abdulaziz bin Salman said Wednesday that the Kingdom was committed to its pledges to reduce carbon emissions and address the climate crisis.

He emphasized that energy security constituted a necessary basis for the prosperity of the global economy, and for achieving a smooth transition to deal with climate challenges.

The Saudi minister’s remarks came during a panel discussion, held within the framework of the business sessions of the LEAP International Technology Conference in Riyadh. The discussion, entitled “Technology for the Energy Transition”, was moderated by Lord Stephen Carter, former British Minister for Communications and CEO of Informa PLC.

Prince Abdulaziz noted that energy sustainability and the use and development of adequate technologies would help the Kingdom reach zero-net emissions in 2060.

He pointed to the role of the Saudi youth in achieving climate goals, saying: “The real story of the Kingdom is the ambitious, determined, and hopeful young generation. Thanks to this generation, the word ‘impossible’ will never be in our dictionary.”

The Saudi Minister of Energy stressed the need to engage positively in the conservation and purification of energy, and to reduce emissions, noting that Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman presented great initiatives, including the Saudi Green Initiative, which aims to achieve zero emissions in 2060.

“Within this commitment, we hosted this conference that brought together the world of technicians in Riyadh, and launched programs that work effectively to reduce emissions,” he stated.

“Thanks to our low-cost production, whether in oil, gas or renewable energy, we will certainly be the least expensive producers of hydrogen, and our perseverance saved us in the OPEC Plus agreement,” Prince Abdulaziz said, noting that his country’s interest in nuclear energy comes within the framework of providing energy services at a lower price to those living in remote areas of the Kingdom.



Iraq to Sign Deal with Halliburton to Develop Nahr Bin Omar Oilfield

Participants observe a presentation at Halliburton's booth at the World Petroleum Congress in Houston, Texas, US December 7, 2021. REUTERS/Liz Hampton/File Photo
Participants observe a presentation at Halliburton's booth at the World Petroleum Congress in Houston, Texas, US December 7, 2021. REUTERS/Liz Hampton/File Photo
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Iraq to Sign Deal with Halliburton to Develop Nahr Bin Omar Oilfield

Participants observe a presentation at Halliburton's booth at the World Petroleum Congress in Houston, Texas, US December 7, 2021. REUTERS/Liz Hampton/File Photo
Participants observe a presentation at Halliburton's booth at the World Petroleum Congress in Houston, Texas, US December 7, 2021. REUTERS/Liz Hampton/File Photo

Iraq and US oil services firm Halliburton are close to finalizing an agreement to develop the Nahr Bin Omar oilfield, the head of Iraq's Basra Oil Company (BOC) told Reuters on Thursday.

Bassem Abdul Karim, director general of state-run BOC, said Iraq's oil ministry and Halliburton are expected to sign a confidentiality agreement in the coming days, after which Iraq will provide Halliburton with data on the Nahr Bin Omar field and its installations.

Under the deal, Halliburton will help Iraq in increasing production at the field to 300,000 barrels per day (bpd), Abdul Karim said, though he did not specify a timeline. The field currently produces around 50,000 bpd, Reuters reported.

"Halliburton will also help Iraq to produce 300 million cubic feet of gas from the field", said Abul Karim.

Abdul Karim said oil production at the West Qurna 1 field, operated by PetroChina in southern Iraq, is expected to reach 750,000 bpd by the end of 2025, up from the current 550,000 bpd. PetroChina holds the largest stake in the field following Exxon's exit.

To reduce its gas import bill, Iraq has selected China Petroleum Engineering & Construction Corporation (CPECC) to develop a $1.7 billion gas project at the Nahr Bin Omar field, which will produce 300 million standard cubic feet (mscf) of gas, according to the BOC manager.

"We are in talks with CPECC to reduce the project's cost, and final signing is imminent," he said.

Asked about the impact of the latest sanctions targeting Russia on the global crude supplies and if Iraq is ready to lift production, Abdul Karim said Iraq has the capacity to increase its oil production by 200,000 barrels per day (bpd) immediately if asked by OPEC.

Iraq's oil exports from its southern ports averaged 3.232 million bpd in December, he added.