ITFC signs $513m syndicated Murabaha financing with Pakistan to support energy imports

Pakistan has set a goal of generating 60 percent of its electricity from renewable sources by 2030 and cutting projected carbon emissions by 50 percent. Reuters
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Updated 15 July 2025
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ITFC signs $513m syndicated Murabaha financing with Pakistan to support energy imports

RIYADH: The International Islamic Trade Finance Corp. has signed a $513 million syndicated Murabaha financing facility with Pakistan to fund vital oil and gas imports, bolstering the country’s energy sector.

This deal marks ITFC’s largest syndicated financing for the South Asian country in the past three years, with the final amount raised being more than double the initial target, highlighting strong investor interest and confidence, the Emirates News Agency, or WAM, reported.

This latest financing aligns with ITFC’s commitment to delivering effective, Shariah-compliant trade solutions that meet the pressing needs of its member countries.

This also corresponds with projections from Apex Solar, which expect Pakistan’s energy storage market to expand at a compound annual growth rate of 22 percent in 2025.

The newly released WAM statement said: “The proceeds of the financing will be used for the import of crude oil, petroleum products, and liquefied natural gas to meet Pakistan’s energy needs.”

It added: “By supporting Pakistan’s energy sector, the facility contributes to broader goals of economic stability, sustainable development, and enhanced trade integration across the Organization of Islamic Cooperation region.”

In addition, Pakistan’s climate change minister reaffirmed the country’s commitment to launching its first national carbon market, following talks with an UN-supported initiative aimed at implementing policy guidelines introduced in 2024.

Federal Minister for Climate Change and Environmental Coordination Musadik Malik hosted a delegation from the Supporting Preparedness for Article 6 Cooperation initiative, which is overseen by the UN Environment Program.

The five-year undertaking is supporting Pakistan, Colombia, Thailand, and Zambia in developing the capacity to trade carbon credits under Article 6 of the Paris climate accord.

SPAR6C’s work in Pakistan includes technical assistance, student training, and pilot activities to help the country develop robust standards for carbon trading.

Malik explained that the South Asian country is committed to building a robust, transparent, and inclusive carbon market, adding that deeper cooperation with international partners and the domestic private sector will be key to delivering on the country’s climate goals, according to a statement released by his office.

Pakistan ranks among the world’s most climate-vulnerable countries, facing frequent floods and heatwaves, yet it contributes only a fraction of global greenhouse gas emissions.

The nation has set a goal of generating 60 percent of its electricity from renewable sources by 2030 and cutting projected carbon emissions by 50 percent.


Saudi Aramco, ExxonMobil, Samref ink deal to study Yanbu refinery upgrade

Updated 08 December 2025
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Saudi Aramco, ExxonMobil, Samref ink deal to study Yanbu refinery upgrade

RIYADH: Energy giants Saudi Aramco, ExxonMobil, and Samref have signed a venture framework agreement to upgrade the Yanbu refinery and expand it into an integrated petrochemical complex.

As a part of the deal, the companies will explore capital investments to upgrade and diversify production, including high-quality distillates that result in lower emissions and high-performance chemicals, according to a joint press statement.

The agreement will also see the parties explore opportunities to improve the refinery’s energy efficiency and reduce environmental impacts from operations through an integrated emissions-reduction strategy.

Samref is an equally owned joint venture between Aramco and Mobil Yanbu Refining Co. Inc., a wholly owned subsidiary of Exxon Mobil Corp.

The refinery currently has the capacity to process more than 400,000 barrels of crude oil per day, producing a diverse range of energy products, including propane, automotive diesel oil, marine heavy fuel oil, and sulfur.

“This next phase of Samref marks a step in our long-term strategic collaboration with ExxonMobil. Designed to increase the conversion of crude oil and petroleum liquids into high-value chemicals, this project reinforces our commitment to advancing Downstream value creation and our liquids-to-chemicals strategy,” said Aramco Downstream President, Mohammed Y. Al Qahtani.

He added that the deal will help position Samref as a key driver of the Kingdom’s petrochemical sector’s growth.

The press statement further said that companies will commence a preliminary front-end engineering and design phase for the proposed project, which would aim to maximize operational advantages, enhance Samref’s competitiveness, and help to meet growing demand for high-quality petrochemical products in Saudi Arabia.

The firms added that these plans are subject to market conditions, regulatory approvals, and final investment decisions by Aramco and ExxonMobil.

“We value our partnership with Aramco and our long history in Saudi Arabia. We look forward to evaluating this project, which aligns with our strategy to focus on investments that allow us to grow high-value products that meet society’s evolving energy needs and contribute to a lower-emission future,” said Jack Williams, senior vice president of Exxon Mobil Corp.