Saudi Arabia Stresses Importance of Energy Transition to Address Climate Challenges

Riyadh proceeds with the implementation of the Green Saudi Initiative in support of addressing climate challenges. (SPA)
Riyadh proceeds with the implementation of the Green Saudi Initiative in support of addressing climate challenges. (SPA)
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Saudi Arabia Stresses Importance of Energy Transition to Address Climate Challenges

Riyadh proceeds with the implementation of the Green Saudi Initiative in support of addressing climate challenges. (SPA)
Riyadh proceeds with the implementation of the Green Saudi Initiative in support of addressing climate challenges. (SPA)

The Saudi Ministry of Energy emphasized the importance of the global energy transition to address climate challenges and the expansion of international cooperation to support sustainable development and the zero emissions target.

Saudi Minister of Energy Prince Abdulaziz bin Salman held a meeting via video conference on Thursday with the Minister of Environment and Climate Action of Portugal, Duarte Cordeiro.

The two officials discussed the importance of supporting the stability of global oil markets by encouraging dialogue and cooperation between producing and consuming countries, and the need to ensure the security of power supply.

The two officials touched on cooperation in various energy fields, such as clean hydrogen and renewable energy, and the security and reliability of electrical systems.

They also underlined their keenness to advance cooperation through the imminent signing of a memorandum of understanding in the field of energy.

The meeting emphasized Saudi Arabia’s reliable role as partner and one of the countries exporting crude oil to Portugal.

The two ministers agreed that energy transition was an important element in addressing energy and climate challenges, noting that this issue would be the focus of the United Nations Climate Change Conference (COP27), which kicks off on Sunday in Sharm El Sheikh, Egypt.

This comes as Saudi Arabia advanced 10 places in the Green Future Index for 2022.

Issued by the MIT Technology Review of the Massachusetts Institute of Technology, the Index highlighted Saudi Arabia’s 10 place advancement, following leading programs and initiatives led by Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman.

In a report, the Saudi Press Agency (SPA) noted that the Kingdom’s rapid progress in the Green Future Index crowns the efforts, programs, and initiatives, which include the Saudi and Middle East Green Initiatives (SGI & MGI) and the establishment of royal natural reserves to increase vegetation in the Kingdom.



Saudi Arabia Issues 86 Industrial Licenses in April Worth $587 Million

A part of Ras Al Khair Industrial City, which is considered the main cornerstone of the mining industry in the Kingdom (SPA)
A part of Ras Al Khair Industrial City, which is considered the main cornerstone of the mining industry in the Kingdom (SPA)
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Saudi Arabia Issues 86 Industrial Licenses in April Worth $587 Million

A part of Ras Al Khair Industrial City, which is considered the main cornerstone of the mining industry in the Kingdom (SPA)
A part of Ras Al Khair Industrial City, which is considered the main cornerstone of the mining industry in the Kingdom (SPA)

Saudi Arabia's Ministry of Industry and Mineral Resources issued 86 new industrial licenses in April, totaling investments of SAR2.2 billion (USD587 million). This brings the year-to-date total to 410 licenses.

According to a report from the ministry’s National Center for Industrial and Mining Information released on Sunday, 67 factories began production in April, investing SAR1.5 billion (USD400 million).

Food production led with 12 new factories, followed by chemicals with 11, and rubber/plastics with 10.

The report noted that 92.5% of new factories were domestic, with joint ventures at 5.9% and foreign investments at 1.49%.

As of April 2024, Saudi Arabia had 11,800 operational or under-construction factories, with investments totaling SAR1.4 trillion (USD373 billion), up from about 10,800 in April 2023.

Small-scale facilities received 80.2% of new licenses, followed by medium-scale at 13.9%. Domestic factories accounted for 100% of the licenses by investment type.

The new licenses were distributed across 10 regions, led by Riyadh with 36 factories, Makkah with 22, and the Eastern Region with 17. Medina had three factories, while Qassim and Hail had two each. Najran, Asir, Al Jouf, and Tabuk each had on.

The ministry’s updates provide insights into Saudi Arabia’s industrial activity, highlighting changes in new investments and factory openings on a monthly basis.