Saudi: SEC Secures $2.6 Billion in Local Syndicated Facility Agreement

The Oil Demand Sustainability Program signed a cooperation agreement with SAL Saudi Logistics Services. (SPA)
The Oil Demand Sustainability Program signed a cooperation agreement with SAL Saudi Logistics Services. (SPA)
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Saudi: SEC Secures $2.6 Billion in Local Syndicated Facility Agreement

The Oil Demand Sustainability Program signed a cooperation agreement with SAL Saudi Logistics Services. (SPA)
The Oil Demand Sustainability Program signed a cooperation agreement with SAL Saudi Logistics Services. (SPA)

The Saudi Electricity Company signed with nine local banks a syndicated facility agreement valued at SAR 10 billion ($2.6 billion).

The seven-year facility is provided by Al Rajhi Bank, Banque Saudi Fransi, Saudi British Bank, Saudi National Bank, Riyad Bank, Bank Albilad, Bank AlJazira, Qatar National Bank KSA and Saudi Investment Bank.

In a statement, Saudi Electricity said that the collateral-free facility was intended to be used for financing general corporate purposes, including capital expenditure.

Saudi Electricity CEO Khaled Al-Gnoon emphasized that the company was working to improve efficiency and reliability, and to achieve a quantum leap in developing and automating the electric service provided to a growing base of nearly 11 million subscribers.

On a different note, the Oil Demand Sustainability Program signed a cooperation agreement with SAL Saudi Logistics Services, which provides for the replacement of wooden pallets with plastic pallets, in a move aimed at supporting the transition towards sustainability in the field of logistics and loading.

The Oil Demand Sustainability Program was launched in 2020, with the participation of several government agencies, companies and research centers. The program works to enhance the added value that can be achieved from hydrocarbons, by developing innovative hydrocarbon materials, and promoting their sustainable use, in addition to supporting the localization of the associated supply chain in the Kingdom.

The agreement was signed by the Head of the Executive Office of the Petroleum Demand Sustainability Program, Eng. Mohammad Haitham Al-Tayyar, and the Managing Director and CEO of SAL Saudi Company for Logistics Services, Faisal Al-Beddah.

Al-Beddah noted that the use of polymeric materials in the manufacture of pallets had several economic and environmental benefits.

He explained that plastic pallets were more sustainable, produced less carbon emissions, were recyclable and reusable, and preserved vegetation.

SAL Saudi Logistics Services provides integrated logistical services in the field of cargo handling across all Saudi airports.

It also offers integrated logistical solutions services to its partners from the sports, entertainment, culture and arts sectors to contribute to achieving the Kingdom’s Vision 2030.



Oil Gains Capped by Uncertainty over Sanctions Impact

FILE PHOTO: An oil pump jack is seen at sunset near Midland, Texas, US, May 3, 2017. REUTERS/Ernest Scheyder/File Photo
FILE PHOTO: An oil pump jack is seen at sunset near Midland, Texas, US, May 3, 2017. REUTERS/Ernest Scheyder/File Photo
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Oil Gains Capped by Uncertainty over Sanctions Impact

FILE PHOTO: An oil pump jack is seen at sunset near Midland, Texas, US, May 3, 2017. REUTERS/Ernest Scheyder/File Photo
FILE PHOTO: An oil pump jack is seen at sunset near Midland, Texas, US, May 3, 2017. REUTERS/Ernest Scheyder/File Photo

Oil prices crept higher on Wednesday as the market focused on potential supply disruptions from sanctions on Russian tankers, though gains were tempered by a lack of clarity on their impact.

Brent crude futures rose 16 cents, or 0.2%, to $80.08 a barrel by 1250 GMT. US West Texas Intermediate crude was up 26 cents, or 0.34%, at $77.76.

The latest round of US sanctions on Russian oil could disrupt Russian oil supply and distribution significantly, the International Energy Agency (IEA) said in its monthly oil market report on Wednesday, adding that "the full impact on the oil market and on access to Russian supply is uncertain".

A fresh round of sanctions angst seems to be supporting prices, along with the prospect of a weekly US stockpile draw, said Ole Hansen, head of commodity strategy at Saxo Bank, Reuters reported.

"Tankers carrying Russian crude seems to be struggling offloading their cargoes around the world, potentially driving some short-term tightness," he added.

The key question remains how much Russian supply will be lost in the global market and whether alternative measures can offset the , shortfall, said IG market strategist Yeap Jun Rong.

OPEC, meanwhile, expects global oil demand to rise by 1.43 million barrels per day (bpd) in 2026, maintaining a similar growth rate to 2025, the producer group said on Wednesday.

The 2026 forecast aligns with OPEC's view that oil demand will keep rising for the next two decades. That is in contrast with the IEA, which expects demand to peak this decade as the world shifts to cleaner energy.

The market also found some support from a drop in US crude oil stocks last week, market sources said, citing American Petroleum Institute (API) figures on Tuesday.

Crude stocks fell by 2.6 million barrels last week while gasoline inventories rose by 5.4 million barrels and distillates climbed by 4.88 million barrels, API sources said.

A Reuters poll found that analysts expected US crude oil stockpiles to have fallen by about 1 million barrels in the week to Jan. 10. Stockpile data from the Energy Information Administration (EIA) is due at 10:30 a.m. EST (1530 GMT).

On Tuesday the EIA trimmed its outlook for global demand in 2025 to 104.1 million barrels per day (bpd) while expecting supply of oil and liquid fuel to average 104.4 million bpd.

It predicted that Brent crude will drop 8% to average $74 a barrel in 2025 and fall further to $66 in 2026 while WTI was projected to average $70 in 2025, dropping to $62 in 2026.