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.



Aramco Plans Transition Minerals Joint Venture with Ma'aden

 The proposed JV would focus on energy transition minerals, including extracting lithium from high-concentration deposits and advancing cost-effective direct lithium extraction (DLE) technologies - File Photo
The proposed JV would focus on energy transition minerals, including extracting lithium from high-concentration deposits and advancing cost-effective direct lithium extraction (DLE) technologies - File Photo
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Aramco Plans Transition Minerals Joint Venture with Ma'aden

 The proposed JV would focus on energy transition minerals, including extracting lithium from high-concentration deposits and advancing cost-effective direct lithium extraction (DLE) technologies - File Photo
The proposed JV would focus on energy transition minerals, including extracting lithium from high-concentration deposits and advancing cost-effective direct lithium extraction (DLE) technologies - File Photo

Aramco, one of the world's leading integrated energy and chemicals companies, and Ma'aden, the largest multi-commodity mining and metals company in the Middle East and North Africa region, announced on Wednesday the signing of non-binding Heads of Terms, which envisages the formation of a minerals exploration and mining joint venture (JV) in Saudi Arabia.
According to a press release, the proposed JV would focus on energy transition minerals, including extracting lithium from high-concentration deposits and advancing cost-effective direct lithium extraction (DLE) technologies. Commercial lithium production is likely to commence by 2027.
This JV is expected to extend Aramco's capabilities into an adjacent sector, leveraging its technological innovation resource and data management skills. It would seek to unlock the potential of the Kingdom's high-value mineral resources, with the aim of helping meet the growing demand for lithium and other transition minerals both domestically and globally. The JV is expected to harness natural resources utilizing a wealth of subsurface data and emerging technologies to advance the Kingdom's economic diversification and energy ambitions, according to SPA.
The statements also added that there is significant potential for the extraction of energy transition minerals in the Kingdom. For example, Aramco has identified several areas with a high lithium concentration of up to 400 parts per million as part of its operations. The JV will benefit from Aramco's expertise and operations, including the use of existing infrastructure, industry-leading drilling operations, and more than 90 years of geological data in its area of operations.
Aramco Upstream President Nasir K. Al-Naimi said, "This announcement reflects Aramco's focus on positively contributing to the global energy transition. The proposed JV will enable the extraction of energy transition minerals, contributing to the growth of more sustainable energy solutions while diversifying our portfolio for a lower-carbon future. We expect that this partnership will leverage the world's leading upstream enterprise to apply significant low-cost advantages, industry experience, technological innovation, accumulated subsurface knowledge and an integrated supply chain ecosystem, with a view to meeting the Kingdom and potentially the world's projected lithium demand."
Ma'aden Senior Vice President of Exploration Darryl Clark stated, "Ma'aden has been undertaking one of the world's largest single-jurisdiction exploration programs across the Arabian Shield to unearth the estimated $2.5 trillion mineral endowment. This proposed JV would enable us to accelerate exploration of the Arabian Platform, combining Aramco's knowledge of the area with Ma'aden's mining and exploration expertise."
Lithium is a fundamental component of the energy transition, essential for production in fast-growing sectors such as electric vehicles, energy storage, and renewables. The global demand for lithium has tripled over the past five years, and its compound annual growth rate is anticipated to exceed 15% annually through 2035. The JV could help meet the Kingdom's forecasted demand for lithium, which is expected to grow twenty-fold between 2024 and 2030, supporting an estimated 500,000 electric vehicle batteries and 110 GW of renewables.
The planned JV, which is subject to customary closing conditions including regulatory approvals, was announced during the Future Minerals Forum in Riyadh.