عربي English Türkçe اردو فارسى
Logo
Latest News
Business

PIF Secures Record-Breaking $17bn Senior Unsecured Term Loan

An agreement to establish the largest solar photovoltaic plant in the Middle East, in Makkah, west Saudi Arabia (SPA)
An agreement to establish the largest solar photovoltaic plant in the Middle East, in Makkah, west Saudi Arabia (SPA)
TT
TT

PIF Secures Record-Breaking $17bn Senior Unsecured Term Loan

An agreement to establish the largest solar photovoltaic plant in the Middle East, in Makkah, west Saudi Arabia (SPA)
An agreement to establish the largest solar photovoltaic plant in the Middle East, in Makkah, west Saudi Arabia (SPA)

Badeel has announced a partnership to establish the largest solar photovoltaic plant in the region, while Saudi Arabia’s Public Investment Fund (PIF) announced that it has secured a $17 billion seven-year senior unsecured term loan (63.7 billion Saudi riyals).

The loan is the largest-of-its-kind general corporate-purpose loan worldwide.

While the new transaction recorded the support of 25 financial institutions across Europe, America, the Middle East, and Asia, the $11 billion loan of 2018 was supported by 15 financial institutions.

The new loan also aligns well with the PIF’s medium-term capital raising strategy as well as its 2022 Annual Capital Raising Plan.

“It is a significant achievement for PIF, raising a record-sized term facility in the longest tenor ever for a loan of its size that is subscribed to by an unprecedentedly diversified number of lenders. PIF will continue to explore a variety of debt funding sources as it delivers on its strategic objectives,” said the Head of the Global Capital Finance Division at PIF Fahad AlSaif in a statement.

Meanwhile, Badeel and ACWA Power signed an agreement to develop the largest solar photovoltaic plant across the Middle East and North Africa in Makka, in the west of Saudi Arabia.

The 2,060 MW solar photovoltaic plant will be built in Al Shuaibah, Makkah province, and is expected to begin commercial operations by the fourth quarter of 2025.

Badeel will jointly own the project with ACWA Power, with both companies holding a 50 percent equity stake each.

The project will be executed through a newly formed joint company called Shuaibah Two Electrical Energy Co..

In this regard, the Shuaibah Two Electrical Energy Co. signed a power purchase agreement with the Saudi Power Procurement Co..

The project is part of Saudi Arabia’s energy transition strategy, highlighting how a giga-scale development in sustainable energy will play a key role in translating Vision 2030 goals.

Yazeed A. Al-Humied, deputy governor and head of MENA Investments at PIF, said: "This marks a key achievement toward PIF’s commitment to developing 70 percent of Saudi Arabia’s renewable energy by 2030.

“Utilities and renewables are one of PIF’s priority sectors as part of its domestic strategy, which focuses on unlocking the capabilities of promising sectors to enhance Saudi Arabia’s efforts in diversifying revenue sources.”

“Saudi Arabia continues to accelerate its ambitious plans for diversifying its energy mix to include renewable energy. It is a great honor to partner with Badeel and SPPC in developing this milestone project which will set a benchmark for sustainable energy development in the region,” said Mohammad Abunayyan, chairman of ACWA Power.

He said solar power is a key component in unlocking positive economic, environmental, and social outcomes, adding: “We remain committed to developing local capabilities in technology, supply chain, and talent and ensure they are realized to their fullest potential.”

Badeel and ACWA Power will build, own, and operate Al Shuaibah 2 facility and the electricity produced will be sold to SPPC. The project is expected to power 350,000 homes.

Shuaibah 2 is ACWA Power’s sixth solar energy facility in Saudi Arabia, with its portfolio comprising 13 power, water desalination, and green hydrogen plants.

Badeel and ACWA Power are also developing the Sudair Solar PV 1500 MW project; which was the first cornerstone renewable energy project in PIF’s program.

Most Viewed

 
 
Business

Saudi Arabia: Global Mining Needs $6 Trillion in Investments to Meet Demand

Saudi Minister of Industry and Mineral Resources Bandar Al-Khorayef speaks at the start of the event. (Asharq Al-Awsat)
Saudi Minister of Industry and Mineral Resources Bandar Al-Khorayef speaks at the start of the event. (Asharq Al-Awsat)
TT
TT

Saudi Arabia: Global Mining Needs $6 Trillion in Investments to Meet Demand

Saudi Minister of Industry and Mineral Resources Bandar Al-Khorayef speaks at the start of the event. (Asharq Al-Awsat)
Saudi Minister of Industry and Mineral Resources Bandar Al-Khorayef speaks at the start of the event. (Asharq Al-Awsat)

The global mining industry requires $6 trillion in investments over the next decade to meet rising demand, presenting a major challenge for the sector. This figure was revealed by Saudi Minister of Industry and Mineral Resources Bandar Al-Khorayef during an international meeting of mining ministers.

The announcement underscores the mining sector’s appetite for investments, coinciding with Saudi Arabia’s increasing focus on making mining the third pillar of its national industrial strategy.

The meeting was part of the Future Minerals Forum hosted by Saudi Arabia under the theme “Creating Impact,” which gathered representatives from nearly 90 countries and over 50 organizations. The conference highlighted the vital role of mining in Saudi Arabia and the global economy.

Key topics discussed included boosting value addition in mineral-producing countries and developing green metals using advanced technologies and renewable energy.

The ministerial meeting facilitated the signing of several memorandums of understanding aimed at strengthening international partnerships and advancing Saudi Arabia’s mining and minerals sector.

In 2022, Saudi Arabia increased its estimated untapped mineral wealth from $1.3 trillion to $2.5 trillion, a move intended to support the Kingdom’s efforts to diversify its economy.

Global mining investments

In his opening remarks, Al-Khorayef stated that the global mining industry would need investments of $6 trillion over the next decade to meet growing demand, particularly driven by the global energy transition. He emphasized that metals are the foundation of supply chains and are essential for meeting the increasing demand for critical materials.

The minister also stressed the importance of continuing three initiatives launched at last year’s conference, namely, the International Framework for Critical Minerals, a network of centers of excellence to build mining expertise in the Middle East, and a priority-based approach to supply chain development.

He proposed forming a ministerial-level steering committee to oversee these initiatives and called on multilateral organizations to develop a roadmap to mitigate investment risks and enhance collaboration.

In remarks to Asharq Al-Awsat on the sidelines of the conference, Al-Khorayef said that Saudi Arabia is working closely with Arab countries, particularly those with established mining sectors like Morocco, Jordan and Egypt.

The minister highlighted the need for regional integration in mining, as companies often operate across multiple areas, stressing that mining is a key component of Saudi Vision 2030, particularly as the world shifts toward sustainable energy solutions and technologies that require large quantities of minerals.

Yonis Ali Guedi, Djibouti’s Minister of Energy and Natural Resources told Asharq Al-Awsat that his country had signed a new cooperation agreement with Saudi Arabia to enhance collaboration in the mining sector and exchange training expertise. The agreement also includes resource-sharing and highlights Djibouti’s need for Saudi investments, he added.

The minister underlined the significant role Saudi companies could play in developing Djibouti’s mining sector, while also acknowledging progress in local industries. On a broader level, Guedi pointed to the growth of Africa’s mining sector and underscored the importance of maintaining this momentum to meet global demand.

Focus on critical minerals

In comments to Asharq Al-Awsat, Julius Maada Bio, Sierra Leone’s Minister of Mines and Mineral Resources, said that financing remains the greatest challenge for his country’s mining sector.

Exploration of critical minerals, he explained, requires significant investments with high risks, a challenge faced by many African nations. Bio underscored the importance of improving Sierra Leone’s infrastructure and value chain capabilities, from exploration to processing, and expressed interest in leveraging Saudi expertise in mining.

He added that Sierra Leone is seeking to strengthen international cooperation to create a comprehensive framework for critical minerals, with a focus on sustainability.

Malaysia’s Minister of Natural Resources, Environment, and Climate Change Nik Nazmi Nik Ahmad highlighted that the key challenge for his country’s mining sector is its technological gap. He noted that advanced technologies for producing and processing rare earth minerals are concentrated in a few major countries, limiting Malaysia’s competitiveness in global markets.

The minister also pointed to geopolitical tensions disrupting global supply chains, which has complicated matters for countries like Malaysia that rely on trade with both China and the United States.

Despite these challenges, Ahmad stated that his country is working to boost its domestic processing capabilities for rare earth minerals, aiming to reduce its reliance on raw material exports.

Yemeni Minister of Minerals Dr. Saeed Al-Shamasi emphasized Yemen’s valuable mineral resources, including lithium, which is essential for batteries and renewable energy technologies. Yemen also holds reserves of copper and other strategic minerals.

He called for urgent foreign investments to develop the sector, given Yemen’s lack of advanced infrastructure. Al-Shamasi also highlighted Yemen’s efforts to strengthen cooperation with Saudi Arabia, noting the establishment of a Saudi-Yemeni Business Council to facilitate investment across various sectors.

International agreements

During the ministerial meeting, Al-Khorayef signed cooperation agreements with six countries: Djibouti, the United Kingdom, Jordan, Zambia, Austria and France. These agreements aim to strengthen international partnerships and advance the Kingdom’s mining sector.

The accompanying exhibition featured cutting-edge technologies and innovations in mining, promoting global collaboration to achieve sustainability in the sector.

Meanhwile, two global alliances, including local and international companies, won exploration licenses for six mining sites in Saudi Arabia during the seventh round of mining competitions, according to the Ministry’s statement on Tuesday.