SUSRIS Daily News – Excerpts from International Media Reports
[Links to full articles were active on the date posted here]
Saudis Voice Fears Over Exporting Oil [Apr 27]
“Saudi Arabia’s surging energy demand may significantly reduce its ability to export oil to the rest of the world in the next two decades, the head of the country’s national oil company has warned. Khalid al-Falih, chief executive officer of Saudi Aramco, said domestic energy demand was expected to increase nearly 250 per cent, from about 3.4m barrels a day of oil equivalent last year to about 8.3m b/d by 2028. If Saudi Arabia did not improve its energy efficiency, availability of oil for export could fall by as much as 3m b/d by that year.. ..It was thought to be the first time a Saudi oil official had addressed concerns about the impact of domestic demand on exports. Analysts welcomed the announcement, saying the world’s largest oil producer and exporter needed to tackle the issue now. Saudi Arabia produces about 8.5m b/d and raised its production capacity to 12.5m b/d last year, reaffirming its role as the world’s key swing producer. But rapidly rising domestic energy demand and natural gas shortages have meant the kingdom has had to burn increasing amounts of crude as it seeks to diversify its economy..” [Complete Report]
Saudi Extends Bidding Period for Mecca-Medina Rail Project [Apr 27]
” The Saudi Railway Organization extended the bidding period for the second phase of a $7 billion rail line linking Jeddah’s international airport with Mecca and Medina, Islam’s two holiest cities. The extension to July, which was requested by bidders, won’t affect completion of the project by the end of 2012, according to a statement posted yesterday on the organization’s Web site. Saudi Binladin Group, Siemens AG, Deutsche Bahn AG, Alstom SA and China South Locomotive & Rolling Stock Corp. are among bidders for the contract to supply trains and electrical systems for the 450-kilometer (280-mile) line. This is the second time the railway organization has extended the deadline, having already moved it forward from February to the end of April. On Feb. 1, Saudi Arabia’s Public Investment Fund said it will provide interest-free loans to speed up the work..” [Complete Report]
Saudi Religious Cop ‘To Keep Job’ [Apr 27]
“A senior member of Saudi Arabia’s Islamic religious police who caused outrage by backing gender mixing and prayers outside the mosque appeared to still have his job yesterday, a day after the organisation announced he had been removed. A spokesman for the Commission for the Promotion of Virtue and Prevention of Vice told Al Hayat newspaper that there were errors in the announcement on Sunday naming a replacement for Sheikh Ahmed al-Ghamdi, the general manager of the religious police’s Makkah branch, and three other regional general managers. The announcement was signed by the organisation’s president, Sheikh Abdulaziz al-Humain.. ..The confusion came after the commission, known as the muttawa or religious police, posted a statement prominently on its website announcing replacements for Ghamdi and three others. Hours later the announcement was removed, and the official state news agency, which had also published the statement, declared it ‘cancelled’..” [Complete Report]
Benin Offers Agricultural Investment to Saudi Arabia [Apr 27]
“Benin, one of Africa’s most stable democracies, is offering agricultural investment to Saudi Arabia, particularly in the areas of rice, cotton, vegetable oil, and nuts production, a trade delegation from that country who met with Saudi businessmen at the Asharqia Chamber of Commerce and Industry said here Monday. ‘Our country has rich agricultural resources, which could provide steady food security to Saudi Arabia,’.. .. Robert said the mission is visiting the Kingdom to offer other investment prospects in Benin, in addition to agriculture, such as in the construction, transport, and telecommunication sectors and seaport operation. ‘We want to expand our economic ties with Kingdom, and the eight years that diplomatic ties have been ongoing between our two countries have been very significant and fruitful,’ said Daouda Wabi, the ambassador Benin to Saudi Arabia. According to the Wabi, there is no significant investments yet of Saudi Arabia in Benin..” [Complete Report]
4 Million Jobs Needed to Meet Population Growth [Apr 27]
“A forum on the role of human resources in technology transfers, held Sunday at the Asharqia Chambers of Commerce and Industry in Eastern Province, revealed that the rapid growth of the Kingdom’s population will require more jobs to serve the needs of the increasing number of citizens and the expatriate communities. Ali Al-Ghufais, Governor of the Technical and Vocation Training Corporation (TVTC), addressing the forum, said population growth is exerting tremendous pressure on the need to get people more employed. “By the year 2020, we need to provide four million more jobs,” he said. The Ministry of Planning statistics show that by the year 2020, the population of Saudi Arabia will reach 33.5 million, made up of 29.7 million Saudis and 3.8 million expatriates..” [Complete Report]
