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Green Spaces in Saudi Arabia Increase by 9%

The General Authority for Statistics revealed the increasing size of green areas in Saudi Arabia. (Asharq Al-Awsat)
The General Authority for Statistics revealed the increasing size of green areas in Saudi Arabia. (Asharq Al-Awsat)
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Green Spaces in Saudi Arabia Increase by 9%

The General Authority for Statistics revealed the increasing size of green areas in Saudi Arabia. (Asharq Al-Awsat)
The General Authority for Statistics revealed the increasing size of green areas in Saudi Arabia. (Asharq Al-Awsat)

In line with the Green Saudi Arabia and Green Middle East initiatives launched by Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman bin Abdulaziz, official statistics revealed on Thursday that the areas of green spaces, parks and gardens in the municipal sector have expanded by 9% during 2021 compared to the same period in 2020.

The General Authority for Statistics (GASTAT) said that land reserves expanded to reach 324,000 square kilometers in 2021, constituting 16% of the total area of Saudi Arabia.

This came after the Saudi government allocated 7 royal reserves in 2018 and 5 reserves in AlUla in 2019, while the area of marine reserves amounted to more than 12 square kilometers in 2021, GASTAT noted.

According to the statistics, the recycled industrial waste in Jubail and Yanbu amounted to 340,000 ton in 2021, recording an increase by 23% compared to 2020.

The Authority also noted that the recycled industrial waste constituted 62% of the amount of collected waste in Jubail and Yanbu in 2021.

The volume of the reused treated water amounted to 419 million cubic meters in 2021, GASTAT said, recording an increase by 24% compared to 2020. The percentage of the reused treated water in 2021 reached 22% of the total treated water.

The waste water treatment stations in 2021 have reached 133 stations, recording an increase by 15% compared to the same period in 2022.

Riyadh has the highest number of waste water treatment stations with 26 stations, followed by Asir with 20 stations, and the Eastern region (Al-Sharqiyah) with 19 stations, the report said.

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OPEC Again Cuts 2024, 2025 Oil Demand Growth Forecasts

The OPEC logo. Reuters
The OPEC logo. Reuters
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OPEC Again Cuts 2024, 2025 Oil Demand Growth Forecasts

The OPEC logo. Reuters
The OPEC logo. Reuters

OPEC cut its forecast for global oil demand growth this year and next on Tuesday, highlighting weakness in China, India and other regions, marking the producer group's fourth consecutive downward revision in the 2024 outlook.

The weaker outlook highlights the challenge facing OPEC+, which comprises the Organization of the Petroleum Exporting Countries and allies such as Russia, which earlier this month postponed a plan to start raising output in December against a backdrop of falling prices.

In a monthly report on Tuesday, OPEC said world oil demand would rise by 1.82 million barrels per day in 2024, down from growth of 1.93 million bpd forecast last month. Until August, OPEC had kept the outlook unchanged since its first forecast in July 2023.

In the report, OPEC also cut its 2025 global demand growth estimate to 1.54 million bpd from 1.64 million bpd, Reuters.

China accounted for the bulk of the 2024 downgrade. OPEC trimmed its Chinese growth forecast to 450,000 bpd from 580,000 bpd and said diesel use in September fell year-on-year for a seventh consecutive month.

"Diesel has been under pressure from a slowdown in construction amid weak manufacturing activity, combined with the ongoing deployment of LNG-fuelled trucks," OPEC said with reference to China.

Oil pared gains after the report was issued, with Brent crude trading below $73 a barrel.

Forecasts on the strength of demand growth in 2024 vary widely, partly due to differences over demand from China and the pace of the world's switch to cleaner fuels.

OPEC is still at the top of industry estimates and has a long way to go to match the International Energy Agency's far lower view.

The IEA, which represents industrialised countries, sees demand growth of 860,000 bpd in 2024. The agency is scheduled to update its figures on Thursday.

- OUTPUT RISES

OPEC+ has implemented a series of output cuts since late 2022 to support prices, most of which are in place until the end of 2025.

The group was to start unwinding the most recent layer of cuts of 2.2 million bpd from December but said on Nov. 3 it will delay the plan for a month, as weak demand and rising supply outside the group maintain downward pressure on the market.

OPEC's output is also rising, the report showed, with Libyan production rebounding after being cut by unrest. OPEC+ pumped 40.34 million bpd in October, up 215,000 bpd from September. Iraq cut output to 4.07 million bpd, closer to its 4 million bpd quota.

As well as Iraq, OPEC has named Russia and Kazakhstan as among the OPEC+ countries which pumped above quotas.

Russia's output edged up in October by 9,000 bpd to about 9.01 million bpd, OPEC said, slightly above its quota.