OPEC+ talks on oil-supply increase stall

The OPEC office in Vienna, Austria. (Reuters file)
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Updated 03 July 2021
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OPEC+ talks on oil-supply increase stall

  • Ministers from the member nations will reconvene on Monday and experts say a deal is likely when the negotiations resume
  • The members had been discussing plans to increase output by 400,000 barrels a day each month between August and December

DUBAI: OPEC+ talks on Friday about a deal to gradually increase oil supply during the rest of this year were postponed until Monday, as members failed to agree on new terms to accommodate requests from some countries.

The group, an alliance of OPEC members and 10 other oil-producing nations led by Russia, had agreed initially on a proposal to increase output by about 400,000 barrels of crude a day each month from August through December, and to extend the broader agreement to continue to limit output, which is due to expire in April next year, until end of 2022.

Although this agreement fell apart, oil experts believe that a deal will be reached when the talks resume next week.

Saudi Arabia and Russia want to gradually increase the oil supply in the coming months to satisfy the growing demand as the world begins to emerge from pandemic lockdowns.

Prince Abdul Aziz Bin Salman, the Saudi energy minister, last month stressed the need to maintain a cautious approach to oil supply, even as the price of Brent rude, the global benchmark, surges. It has risen by more than 50 per cent this year to stand at $76 a barrel yesterday.

 

 


Two Saudi cybersecurity firms plan Tadawul listings within 2 years 

Updated 59 min 52 sec ago
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Two Saudi cybersecurity firms plan Tadawul listings within 2 years 

RIYADH: Two Saudi cybersecurity companies, Cyber and Infratech, plan to list a portion of their shares on the Saudi Stock Exchange, or Tadawul, between 2026 and 2027, according to the companies’ chairmen, who spoke to Al-Eqtisadiah. 

Abdulrahman Al-Kenani, founder and CEO of Cyber, said: “The company is currently planning to acquire certain entities, which will be disclosed in the coming period, in addition to preparing for a public offering through the Tumooh program on the stock market within the next two years at the latest.” 

Al-Kenani explained that the financial, healthcare and services sectors are witnessing continuous cyberattacks as Saudi Arabia expands its digital transformation, accompanied by a rise in the frequency of such incidents. He added that this phenomenon is not limited to the Kingdom but is a global issue. 

The CEO added: “The company is working with several Saudi airports and vital sectors, in addition to collaborating with major international companies to provide cutting-edge cybersecurity solutions.” 

Infratech plans 4 R&D centers abroad 

Ayman Al-Suhaim, CEO of Infratech, stated: “The size of the information technology and cybersecurity market in Saudi Arabia has reached approximately SR87 billion ($23.2 billion), of which SR15.7 billion are allocated to the cybersecurity sector. This includes consulting, managed services, governance, risk management, and cybersecurity within the industrial sector.” 

He said the company has a strategic plan covering the period from 2026 to 2028, which includes establishing a firm in the first quarter of next year to finance cybersecurity and artificial intelligence products, as well as launching four research and development centers in the US, Russia, China and Eastern Europe. 

The plan also includes investment in cloud storage, overseas ventures, and the expansion of operations and investments in data centers. 

Al-Suhaim said the company intends to go public in 2027, noting that it operates across multiple cybersecurity domains serving sectors including energy, defense, aviation and government services. 

The Tumooh program for small and medium-sized enterprises in Saudi Arabia is one of the support initiatives offered by the General Authority for Small and Medium Enterprises, or Monsha’at. It aims to drive SME growth by strengthening capabilities, improving performance and accelerating expansion. 

The initiative seeks to help fast-growing SMEs prepare for initial public offerings in the financial markets. To date, the program has facilitated the listing of 24 companies on the Nomu Parallel Market out of more than 2,500 firms registered under the scheme.