Saudi Aramco Breaks Ground for Upstream Research Center at Moscow University

The logo of Saudi Aramco is seen at Aramco headquarters in Dhahran, Saudi Arabia May 23, 2018. (Reuters)
The logo of Saudi Aramco is seen at Aramco headquarters in Dhahran, Saudi Arabia May 23, 2018. (Reuters)
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Saudi Aramco Breaks Ground for Upstream Research Center at Moscow University

The logo of Saudi Aramco is seen at Aramco headquarters in Dhahran, Saudi Arabia May 23, 2018. (Reuters)
The logo of Saudi Aramco is seen at Aramco headquarters in Dhahran, Saudi Arabia May 23, 2018. (Reuters)

Strategic collaboration between Saudi Arabia and Russia continues to progress with Saudi Aramco President and CEO Amin Al-Nasser who attended the groundbreaking ceremony of a new Saudi Aramco Research Center at the Lomonosov Moscow State University (MSU) Science Park, reported the Saudi Press Agency on Friday.

The Center is Saudi Aramco’s 9th R&D facility outside the Kingdom and will focus on upstream technologies in simulation and modeling, advanced materials, data analytics and artificial intelligence. It promotes collaborative research activities primarily with MSU and other entities in Russia.

Al-Nasser said: “Saudi Aramco welcomes the collaboration with Lomonosov Moscow State University, an institution globally known for its centuries-old tradition of academic excellence, and its importance to the oil and gas industry.”

“Strong partnerships between industry and academia are key to addressing society’s energy challenges, and Saudi Aramco’s global research center at MSU Science Park will help drive research and innovation to develop new technology solutions.”

The groundbreaking at MSU Science Park follows the announcement of a Memorandum of Understanding signed in August 2018 by the two partners.

At the event, a research agreement between Saudi Aramco and MSU was signed to enable collaborative research projects between the two entities.

“Our ongoing strategic engagements and discussions with partners in Russia are taking our relationship to new heights. We advance our shared interests in stewarding our nations’ rich hydrocarbon resources, providing reliable energy sources to the world,” Nasser added.



EU May Suspend Syria Sanctions on Energy and Transport

FILE PHOTO: A general view of the commercial harbor of Syria's coastal city of Tartous, Syria, December 14, 2024. REUTERS/Umit Bektas/File Photo
FILE PHOTO: A general view of the commercial harbor of Syria's coastal city of Tartous, Syria, December 14, 2024. REUTERS/Umit Bektas/File Photo
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EU May Suspend Syria Sanctions on Energy and Transport

FILE PHOTO: A general view of the commercial harbor of Syria's coastal city of Tartous, Syria, December 14, 2024. REUTERS/Umit Bektas/File Photo
FILE PHOTO: A general view of the commercial harbor of Syria's coastal city of Tartous, Syria, December 14, 2024. REUTERS/Umit Bektas/File Photo

The European Union may soon suspend sanctions on Syria related to energy and transport but has yet to agree on whether to ease restrictions on financial transactions, according to three diplomats and a document seen by Reuters.
EU foreign ministers will discuss the matter at a meeting in Brussels on Monday. The bloc’s foreign policy chief Kaja Kallas told Reuters on Wednesday she hopes a political agreement on easing the sanctions can be reached at the gathering.
Europe’s approach to Damascus began to shift after Bashar al-Assad was ousted as president in December by Hayat Tahrir al-Sham (HTS), which the United Nations designates as a terrorist group.
Officials see transport as key for helping Syria’s airports become fully operational, which in turn could facilitate the return of refugees. Energy and electricity are similarly seen as important for improving living conditions to help stabilize the country and encourage citizens to come back.
According to an EU document seen by Reuters, diplomats from the bloc's 27 members recommended taking swift action towards suspending the restrictions "in sectors necessary for economic stabilization and launch of economic reconstruction of Syria, such as those regarding energy and transport”.
The diplomats, who are part of a group that negotiates the EU’s foreign policy positions on issues related to the Middle East and North Africa, also recommended “assessing options for reopening banking and investment relations with Syria”.
“The easing of EU restrictive measures would be rolled out in a staged approach and in a reversible manner, regularly assessing if the conditions in Syria allow for further suspension,” the diplomats wrote, pointing to the need for respect for fundamental freedoms and an inclusive transition.
The wording of the document represents a compromise among EU capitals. Some governments want to move quickly to suspend sanctions, while others prefer a more careful and gradual approach to ensure Europe retains leverage.
If a political agreement is announced on Monday, European officials would proceed to work on the technical details of a suspension.
A number of sanctions should remain in place, according to the document, including measures related to the Al-Assad regime, illicit drug trade and arms trade.