Tuesday, October 31, 2023
HomeBusiness

Business

“Bharat Petroleum of India to Raise $2.19bn for Green Energy Expansion”

RIYADH: State-owned oil marketing company Bharat Petroleum said on Wednesday it approved raising up to 180 billion rupees ($2.19 billion) through an issue of equity shares on a rights basis, underscoring India’s push to achieve net-zero emissions goals. The details of the issue, including the price, right entitlement and timing, will be intimated separately after the board approval, it said in an exchange filing. Last week, the company said the funds would be used to achieve “energy transition, net zero and energy security objectives.”

Crude Oil Updates: Monthly Gain Expected as Supply Tightens

HOUSTON: Oil prices edged higher on Friday with Brent poised for its first monthly gain this year, as a big drawdown in US oil stocks outweighed concerns that fuel demand will be dented further by more interest rate hikes, according to Reuters. Brent crude futures for September delivery rose 16 cents or 0.2 percent to stand at $74.67 as of 7:05 a.m. Saudi time. The less-traded front month contract, which expires on Friday, was up 30 cents at $74.64. US West Texas Intermediate crude gained 8 cents or 0.1 percent to $69.95.

Saudi Arabia unemployment rate Q1 2022 drops to 5.1%

RIYADH: Saudi Arabia’s jobs targets outlined in Vision 2023 have borne results, with its overall unemployment rate falling 0.9 percentage points to 5.1 percent in the first quarter of 2023 compared to the same period a year ago, official data showed.  According to the latest report by the General Authority for Statistics, the labor force participation of Saudis increased annually by 2.3 percentage points in the first quarter. The employment-to-population ratio also increased by 2.9 percentage points. 

Turkey to increase central bank’s foreign reserves to counter lira depreciation

RIYADH: Turkiye is intensifying efforts to boost foreign reserves in its central bank, the country’s finance minister has revealed. Writing on Twitter, Mehmet Simsek said the bank’s net international reserves rose to a record $8.5 billion last week. “The return to rational policies will continue gradually,” the minister wrote, adding: “We are accelerating our efforts to obtain additional foreign resources to our country in order to further strengthen the reserves.”

Egypt’s Petroleum Ministry launches digital platform for sector investments

RIYADH: Egypt’s petroleum sector is on track to prosper thanks to a new service that will make it easier for investors to spot opportunities in the country. Launched by the Ministry of Petroleum and Mineral Resources, the Upstream Gateway digital platform aims to market petroleum areas globally, according to a statement. It will also provide the geological data required by current and potential investors and promote bids in the North African country’s oil and gas exploration field.

“Saudi Arabia and Slovenia Foster Trade Relations at WEF Event”

RIYADH: Trade and economic ties between Saudi Arabia and Slovenia are expected to improve following a meeting between the Kingdoms’ Minister of Economy and Planning Faisal Alibrahim and Slovenia’s Minister of Digital Transformation Emilija Stojmenova Duh.  The ministers held talks on the sidelines of the recent World Economic Forum summit in Tianjin, China. The pair discussed potential areas of cooperation between both countries and analyzed ways to address issues of common interest, according to the Saudi Press Agency.

Sound Energy secures $237m financing for Moroccan gas project in the UK

RIYADH: A natural gas project in east Morocco will soon be completed thanks to a new finance push from the largest bank in the North African country. UK-based Sound Energy has received a conditional offer from Attijariwafa Bank to obtain funding amounting to 2.3 billion Moroccan dirhams ($237 million) for the Tendrara-based project’s second phase, according to a statement. The funding will be allocated for completing drilling, operating wells, and building a pipeline to transport natural gas to the state’s National Office of Electricity and Drinking Water.

Must read