Russia’s Lukoil lifts Iraq output as it swings to profit

Rising sales and higher oil prices helped Lukoil return to profit after a second quarter marred by pandemic fallout and global production curbs. (AFP)
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Updated 25 November 2020
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Russia’s Lukoil lifts Iraq output as it swings to profit

  • Lukoil claims to account for about 2 percent of global oil production

MOSCOW: Russian oil producer Lukoil said on Tuesday that it had reversed a loss into a profit of 50.4 billion roubles ($664 million) in the third quarter thanks to a rise in oil prices, while it had boosted oil output in Russia and Iraq.

Lukoil has faced a pandemic fallout as well as a weaker rouble, which has inflated its debt, denominated in foreign currencies. The company’s output has been also constrained by a global deal on production curbs.

The company had finished the second quarter with a loss of 18.7 billion roubles.

Lukoil said on Tuesday that it had started to boost its output at West Qurna-2 oil field in Iraq from the middle of October, by around 30,000 barrels per day (bpd), after cuts of around 70,000 bpd from May 1 and by 50,000 bpd more from mid-June, in accordance with the deal.

Lukoil, whose largest shareholders are its head, Vagit Alekperov, and vice president Leonid Fedun, also said it had raised its oil output in Russia.

The company said sales rose to 1.46 trillion roubles in the July — September quarter from 986.4 billion roubles in April-June.

The growth was mainly attributable to higher hydrocarbon prices, higher production of refined products at the group’s refineries, as well as higher trading and retail sales volumes, Lukoil said in a statement.

The company also began to recover its natural gas production in Uzbekistan in September.


Saudi Arabia’s NDF unveils strategic partners for MOMENTUM 2025 conference 

Updated 07 December 2025
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Saudi Arabia’s NDF unveils strategic partners for MOMENTUM 2025 conference 

RIYADH: Saudi Arabia’s National Development Fund has unveiled the lineup of strategic partners for the Development Finance Conference MOMENTUM 2025, as the Kingdom accelerates efforts to build a more integrated development-finance ecosystem.  

The conference, scheduled for Dec. 9–11 at the King Abdulaziz International Conference Center in Riyadh, will bring together policymakers, lenders and global development institutions as the Kingdom seeks to expand financing channels for key sectors. 

Saudi National Bank and Arab National Bank are named Main Partners, while Riyad Bank will serve as Banking Partner, NDF said in a press release.  

Bank AlJazira and Saudi Awwal Bank join as Enabling Partners, and public-sector participants include Invest Saudi, the Made in Saudi Program, and the Saudi Conventions and Exhibitions General Authority. 

Riyadh Municipality also joins the list as the host city partner, while Saudi Post is the logistics partner for the conference. 

“Collectively, these partnerships advance the conference’s vision of fostering collaboration among public and private sectors, contributing to Saudi Vision 2030 objectives,” the release said. 

Organized by NDF, this year’s conference is convened under the theme “Leading Development Transformation.” 

MOMENTUM 2025 reflects the NDF’s central role as a principal enabler of development in the Kingdom and as a strategic driver of the national development finance system through its 12 affiliated development funds and banks.  

“Through this conference, NDF aims to align efforts, amplify impact, enhance coordination and integration, and build meaningful partnerships with leaders across the public and private sectors. Together, these efforts are intended to ensure sustainable growth and empower strategic sectors to deliver on national and global development goals,” the release added.  

The program will feature more than 100 speakers from over 120 local and international entities, further underscoring the conference’s role as a national forum supporting the leadership’s vision of building a dynamic financing ecosystem that empowers key sectors. 

Several princes, ministers, senior officials, CEOs, global leaders, development experts, and economists are scheduled to attend the conference. 

The event will spotlight the contribution of the private sector and small and medium-sized enterprises in elevating the Kingdom’s economic growth, generating jobs, and boosting competitiveness.