Oman’s Abraj Signs Oil Drilling and Extraction Deal with Chevron, Kuwait Gulf Oil Company

The deal will see Abraj build three drilling platforms in the Wafra oilfield in Kuwait. (Abraj)
The deal will see Abraj build three drilling platforms in the Wafra oilfield in Kuwait. (Abraj)
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Oman’s Abraj Signs Oil Drilling and Extraction Deal with Chevron, Kuwait Gulf Oil Company

The deal will see Abraj build three drilling platforms in the Wafra oilfield in Kuwait. (Abraj)
The deal will see Abraj build three drilling platforms in the Wafra oilfield in Kuwait. (Abraj)

Oman's Abraj Energy Services said on Saturday it had signed a five-year "strategic partnership deal" with Kuwait Gulf Oil Company and Saudi Arabian Chevron to extract and drill for oil in Kuwait.

The deal will see Abraj build three drilling platforms in the Wafra oilfield in Kuwait, the company said in a statement.

The deal comes "within the framework of strengthening (the company's) position and expanding its operations in … the Middle East and North Africa," it added.

This agreement leverages Abraj's competitive advantage of being a leading service provider in Oman with a depth of experience and expertise.

The collaboration envisages an opportunity to expand its portfolio of services, exchange experiences and adopt best practices in the field of drilling, sustainability and technology in the sector.

Remarking on the importance of this partnership, Saif Al Hamhami, Abraj Energy Services CEO, said: "We are pleased to announce our strategic partnership with Saudi Arabian Chevron and Kuwait Gulf Oil Company, emphasizing our commitment to expand our regional footprint in the Middle East and North Africa region."

"The company is pre-qualified to provide various services in Kuwait, Saudi Arabia and Algeria, where the company's advanced rigging fleet is linked to long-term contracts with leading national and international companies in the field of exploration and production."

He added: "Abraj Energy Services is uniquely poised for this opportunity as it owns the most modern and advanced drilling fleets in the Middle East and North Africa region. Consisting of 25 drilling rigs and five well maintenance rigs that operate with the latest technology, it offers a competitive advantage to its clients particularly in Saudi Arabia, Kuwait and Algeria."

In line with its growth strategy, Abraj Energy Services announced the listing of its shares on the Muscat Stock Exchange on February 23.

This was part of the exit plan announced by Oman Investment Authority to facilitate investment opportunities for local and foreign investors in tandem with the goals of Oman Vision 2040. This step aims to boost the participation of the private sector in various economic fields at the national level.



Oman Port Hit by Drone to Reopen from Tuesday

General view of Port of Salalah in Dhofar governorate, Oman, August 6, 2024. REUTERS/Rula Rouhana/File Photo
General view of Port of Salalah in Dhofar governorate, Oman, August 6, 2024. REUTERS/Rula Rouhana/File Photo
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Oman Port Hit by Drone to Reopen from Tuesday

General view of Port of Salalah in Dhofar governorate, Oman, August 6, 2024. REUTERS/Rula Rouhana/File Photo
General view of Port of Salalah in Dhofar governorate, Oman, August 6, 2024. REUTERS/Rula Rouhana/File Photo

Danish shipping firm Maersk announced Monday that Oman's port of Salalah, which was hit by a drone at the weekend, would start to reopen from Tuesday.

The Oman authorities said one worker was injured and minor damage caused by the strike on the port, which is run by Maersk subsidiary APM Terminals and is one of the key shipping facilities in the Gulf state.

Maersk said the area damaged was "limited" and that the port's management would take "necessary measures" to progressively build up to full capacity.

Some "constraints" would remain but additional safety and "preventive" measures had been taken because of the strike, it added.


US Stocks Open Higher after Trump Threatens Iran

Stock market statistics are displayed on a screen at the New York Stock Exchange (AFP)
Stock market statistics are displayed on a screen at the New York Stock Exchange (AFP)
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US Stocks Open Higher after Trump Threatens Iran

Stock market statistics are displayed on a screen at the New York Stock Exchange (AFP)
Stock market statistics are displayed on a screen at the New York Stock Exchange (AFP)

Wall Street stocks opened higher Monday after US President Donald Trump claimed progress in talks with Iran, even as he threatened to destroy key oil facilities on Kharg Island and to decimate the country's power infrastructure.

International benchmark Brent North Sea crude was up 2.2 percent to $115.02 per barrel on Monday morning, while the main US oil contract, West Texas Intermediate, rose 1.7 percent to $101.35, AFP reported.

All three major US indices started the week on the front foot.

About ten minutes into trading, the tech-rich Nasdaq Composite was up 0.8 percent at 21,124.23, the Dow Jones Industrial Average rose 0.9 percent at 45,566.69, and the broad-based S&P 500 also rose 0.9 percent to 6,426.20.

Art Hogan of B. Riley Wealth Management said investors "would desperately like to see an exit ramp in this war."

Still, even as Trump claims progress towards talks, he is often contradicted by Tehran and the Middle East region remains engulfed by war, with US-Israeli strikes continuing, Iran's retaliation targeting US allies in the Gulf and Israeli strikes against Lebanon expanding.

"The market's going to wake up every day and try to figure out where we are in the war with Iran and what that means for energy prices," said Hogan.

"If in fact, the president's announcement on Truth Social can be even taken a little bit seriously about negotiations going well, then the market would celebrate that."

Hogan added that markets were currently oversold and therefore "very susceptible to any good news, especially as it pertains to this war in Iran."

Monday's gains came after a series of losses last week, with the S&P 500 ending the week lower for the fifth straight week, its longest such run in four years.


Turkish Cenbank Total Reserves Fell $55 billion Since War Began

Turkish Central Bank (official website)
Turkish Central Bank (official website)
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Turkish Cenbank Total Reserves Fell $55 billion Since War Began

Turkish Central Bank (official website)
Turkish Central Bank (official website)

The Turkish Central Bank's total reserves fell by a hefty $22 billion last week to $155.5 billion, bringing their declines since the start of the Iran war to $55 billion, bankers said, Reuters reported.

They said the central bank sold $18 billion in foreign exchange last week, meaning its total forex sales amid the one-month war totaled $44 billion.

The central bank's net reserves fell $22.5 billion last week to $35 billion, the bankers also said.