Saudi-US ties enduring: Kerry

Source: Saudi Gazette (Read full story)

The Kingdom and the United States reiterated here on Monday that they would continue to work together, with Saudi Foreign Minister Prince Saud Al-Faisal saying “our two friendly countries” are busy dealing jointly with troublesome issues like Syria, Iran and the Mideast peace process.  “There is no room for emotion and anger here, but rather for policies of commonsense and level-headedness,” Prince Saud said at a joint press conference with Kerry.  “The fact of the matter is that the historic relationship between the two countries has always been based on independence, mutual respect and constructive cooperation,” he said.  He said that “the Kingdom’s declination of membership in the Security Council in no way shape or form amounts to the withdrawing from the United Nations.” He also lamented the international organization’s “failure to make the Middle East a nuclear-free zone.”

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For his part, Kerry said: “This is a deep relationship and it has endured for 75 years and it will endure well into the future […] Our relationship is strategic, it is enduring and it covers a wide range” of issues, Kerry told reporters as he wound up a visit, including a two-hour meeting with Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques King Abdullah.

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OPEC oil output hits two-year low

Source: Arab News (Read full story)

OPEC’s oil output has fallen below 30 million barrels per day for the first time in two years in October, a Reuters survey found, as near-record Saudi Arabian output fails to offset disruption in Libya and lower supply from Iran and Nigeria. Supply from the Organization of the Petroleum Exporting Countries has averaged 29.90 million barrels per day (bpd), down from a revised 30.01 million bpd in September, according to the survey based on shipping data and information from sources at oil companies, OPEC and consultants. The survey further illustrates the drag on OPEC output from problems in African producers and sanctions on Iran. But rising shale oil supply from the US has limited the outages’ impact on prices, which at $109 a barrel are down over $8 from their 2013 peak.

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Qatar has major petrochemical expansion plans

Source: The Peninsula (Read full story)

Qatar has greater petrochemical expansion plans than any other country in the region over the next 5-10 years and is well positioned for success, a global team of chemicals experts said ahead of their  two-day  visit to Qatar to meet with CEOs and CFOs of leading petrochemical companies in Qatar and discuss key issues facing this industry. Paul Harnick, COO of KPMG’s global chemicals practice, based in the US remarked: “Qatar is taking good steps to continue their success in the petrochemical industry and is responding to potential threats from the international marketplace.  As US producers are now benefitting from low cost shale gas as a feedstock, it will make the US the cheapest place in the world to manufacture petrochemicals.

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Amir urges it’s time to change ‘old concepts’

Source: Kuwait Times (Read full story)

HH the Amir Sheikh Sabah Al-Ahmad Al-Sabah yesterday called for undertaking comprehensive reforms and change old concepts and launch a new page of cooperation between the government and the Assembly. “It’s time to launch a new decisive era and a major qualitative move aimed at achieving comprehensive reforms and completing construction, growth and development in all aspects of life,” the Amir said as he opened the new National Assembly term following a summer recess. The Amir also urged the legislature and the government to cooperate closely to undertake projects urgently needed by the country after delays as a result of political disputes witnessed by the country in the past few years.

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Shaikh Khalifa orders 21 new projects in Pakistan

Source: Khaleej Times (Read full story)

The UAE Project to Assist Pakistan (PAP) has announced the start of 21 new developmental projects at a cost of $184.2 million, in implementation of the directives and initiatives of the President, His Highness Shaikh Khalifa bin Zayed Al Nahyan, to support and help the people of Pakistan and contribute to the development of cities and outlying regions. Director of PAP Abdullah Khalifa Al Ghafli said on the occasion that these new projects represent the beginning of the second phase of the project’s work plan under the generous directives and initiatives of Shaikh Khalifa, General Shaikh Mohammed bin Zayed Al Nahyan, Crown Prince of Abu Dhabi and Deputy Supreme Commander of the UAE Armed Forces, and the follow-up of Shaikh Mansour bin Zayed Al Nahyan, Deputy Prime Minister, Minister of Presidential Affairs and Chairman of the Abu Dhabi Fund for Development.

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Gulf stability of paramount importance to Egypt: PM

Source: Khaleej Times (Read full story)

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“There is huge potential for cooperation between [Egypt and the UAE]. We look forward to attracting more Emirati investments and wider cooperation among the private sectors of the two countries. The UAE is the second largest Arab investor in Egypt,” [Egyptian Prime Minister Dr Hazem Al Beblawi] said.  Al Beblawi noted that Egypt could benefit from UAE’s vast experience in alternative and renewable energy fields.  “There is a need for diversified sources of energy, particularly in the Egyptian countryside. I am glad that the assistance that will be extended by the UAE to Egypt will include supporting the energy sector.”

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Kingdom to use shale gas for electricity generation

Source: Arab News (Read full story)

Saudi Arabia is preparing to be among the first countries outside North America to use shale gas for power generation and thereby save more of its crude oil for lucrative exports. Inspired by a shale gas boom in the US, which has transformed the country from the world’s largest gas importer to a budding exporter, Riyadh plans to take its first steps to commercialize its own large unconventional deposits. “We are ready to start producing our own shale gas and unconventional resources in various types in the next few years and deliver them to consumers,” Saudi Aramco CEO Khalid Al-Falih said at the World Energy Congress in South Korea.

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KACST produces three types of drones

Source: Arab News (Read full story)

King Abdulaziz City for Science and Technology (KACST) recently produced three types of drones (pilotless planes), the first of their kind in the Kingdom, announced Khalid bin Abdullah Al-Husan, superviser of the National Center for Aviation Technology (NCAT) at KACST.  The air drones, code-named Saqr 2, 3 and 4, are made of carbon and fiberglass and are characterized as light and durable to evade detection of radar and reconnaissance equipment, he explained.  The drones can be programmed from a ground-based control room, he added.  The newly created devices contain automatic control units, as well as logarithms programs, which can deal with and adapt to different wind speeds and temperatures, engine combustion, emergency landing or climb, or deviation from flight path, Al-Husan said.

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