Aramco Warns Employees Against Taking Pictures of Sites

A metal part of a damaged tank is seen at the damaged site of Saudi Aramco oil facility in Abqaiq, Saudi Arabia, September 20, 2019. (Reuters)
A metal part of a damaged tank is seen at the damaged site of Saudi Aramco oil facility in Abqaiq, Saudi Arabia, September 20, 2019. (Reuters)
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Aramco Warns Employees Against Taking Pictures of Sites

A metal part of a damaged tank is seen at the damaged site of Saudi Aramco oil facility in Abqaiq, Saudi Arabia, September 20, 2019. (Reuters)
A metal part of a damaged tank is seen at the damaged site of Saudi Aramco oil facility in Abqaiq, Saudi Arabia, September 20, 2019. (Reuters)

Saudi Aramco has renewed its work on banned facilities and operating sites, as well as sites under construction in the company.

The company issued a statement warning its employees against uploading, sending, or exchanging any photographs or videos of the restricted and under construction areas on social media.

The statement indicated that this action is strictly prohibited unless the required approval is taken.

Aramco cautioned its employees that in the event of non-compliance, the company will take firm disciplinary action.

The company’s reminder comes just days after Saudi Aramco's Abqaiq plant was hit by a terrorist attack that caused a major fire at the plant, the world's largest oil refinery, as well as another attack on an oil facility in Khurais located on the road between al-Ihsa and Riyadh.

Although Saudi Aramco has been able to control the attacks, the company's industrial security department preferred to be careful by reminding its employees of the ban and tightening security in this regard.

Meanwhile, Aramco hired UBS Group and Deutsche Bank as book-runners for its initial public offering, two sources familiar with the matter said.

This is an indication that the deal is moving ahead despite the recent attack on Aramco’s oil facilities.

The company started informing banks about the bookrunners’ roles, one of the sources said.

Reuters revealed that Aramco finalized nine banks for top roles as global coordinators in recent weeks, and more banks are expected to be named in junior roles, the sources said.

Aramco has also added Barclays and BNP Paribas as bookrunners, Bloomberg cited people familiar with the matter.

Doubts had emerged about the timeline of the potentially $20 billion domestic leg of the IPO among investors after last Saturday’s attacks on two sites that usually process and clean up about 5.7 million barrels per day (bpd).

Aramco said that by the end of September it will resume full crude output at Abqaiq and Khurais.

The company’s meeting with analysts, ahead of the expected IPO in late November, is also scheduled for early next week, two other sources said.

Aramco’s listing is the first step toward an eventual sale of up to 5 percent, with another 1 percent expected to be sold domestically next year, followed by an international listing.

Initial hopes for an international listing dissipated when the share sale was halted last year amid a debate over an overseas venue and valuation.

Aramco had said the delay was due to its deal to acquire a 70 percent stake in petrochemicals maker Saudi Basic Industries Corp. Crown Prince Mohammed put a $2 trillion valuation on the company in early 2016.



Albudaiwi Holds Talks with European Parliament Delegation in Riyadh

Secretary-General of the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) Jasem Albudaiwi. SPA
Secretary-General of the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) Jasem Albudaiwi. SPA
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Albudaiwi Holds Talks with European Parliament Delegation in Riyadh

Secretary-General of the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) Jasem Albudaiwi. SPA
Secretary-General of the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) Jasem Albudaiwi. SPA

Secretary-General of the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) Jasem Albudaiwi met on Sunday in Riyadh a delegation from the European Parliament, headed by Reinhold Lopatka.

During the meeting, the two sides discussed the partnership and cooperation between the GCC and the European Parliament, aimed at serving mutual interests and benefiting their peoples, while contributing to the further support of Gulf-European relations, SPA reported.

They also exchanged views on optimal ways and proposals to enhance bilateral relations.

Albudaiwi emphasized that the GCC states seek to strengthen ties with their regional and international partners to promote development, prosperity, security, and stability. He pointed out that the delegation’s visit to the General Secretariat today strengthens Gulf-European relations and opens broader horizons for cooperation.

At the conclusion of the meeting, the two sides discussed the latest regional developments. The members of the European Parliament delegation underlined their support for the GCC states in the face of recent Iranian attacks against them.


GCC Stands in Solidarity with Bahrain in All Sovereign Measures Taken to Protect Its Security

GCC Stands in Solidarity with Bahrain in All Sovereign Measures Taken to Protect Its Security
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GCC Stands in Solidarity with Bahrain in All Sovereign Measures Taken to Protect Its Security

GCC Stands in Solidarity with Bahrain in All Sovereign Measures Taken to Protect Its Security

Secretary-General of the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) Jasem Albudaiwi expressed the council’s full solidarity with the Kingdom of Bahrain in all sovereign measures it undertakes to enhance and protect the security of its people and its stability.

Albudaiwi also emphasized that the security of the Kingdom of Bahrain is a top priority for the GCC member states and constitutes an integral part of the collective security and stability of the GCC, SPA reported.

He underscored that the GCC states stand as one in confronting anything that might undermine Bahrain's security or threaten the safety of its citizens.


Saudi Arabia Affirms Support for Bahrain’s Decisions to Safeguard Its Security and Stability

Saudi Arabia emphasized that Bahrain's security is integral to its own security and that of all other Gulf states (Reuters).
Saudi Arabia emphasized that Bahrain's security is integral to its own security and that of all other Gulf states (Reuters).
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Saudi Arabia Affirms Support for Bahrain’s Decisions to Safeguard Its Security and Stability

Saudi Arabia emphasized that Bahrain's security is integral to its own security and that of all other Gulf states (Reuters).
Saudi Arabia emphasized that Bahrain's security is integral to its own security and that of all other Gulf states (Reuters).

Saudi Arabia affirmed its support for the sovereign measures taken by Bahrain’s leadership to protect its security and preserve its sovereignty.

In a statement, the Saudi Ministry of Foreign Affairs expressed the Kingdom’s support for Bahrain in the measures it takes to confront anything that could undermine its security and stability and to deter anyone who seeks to target Bahrain’s sovereignty or interfere in its internal affairs, stressing that Bahrain’s security is integral to the security of Saudi Arabia and the other Gulf states.