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Ministry of
Petroleum report |
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Jeddah, 8th October 2000 |
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Minister of Petroleum and Mineral
Resources Ali Nu'eimi has reiterated that the total quantities of
mineral resources that were exploited by carriers of mining concessions
for the fiscal year 1999 amounted to about 34 million ton, including 16
million ton of cement, 400,000 ton of gypsum, 3.2 million square meters
of ceramic, 12000 ton of sanitation, 95000 ton of salt and more than
4000 kilogram of gold.
While introducing the Technical,
Financial and Statistical Report on the Activities of the Carriers of
Mining Concessions for 1419/1420AH, issued by the Agency of the Ministry
Petroleum and Mineral Resources, Al-Nu'eimi said the profits of the
carriers of mining concessions exceeded SR1,200 million. He noted that
the Ministry of Petroleum and Mineral Resources has been exerting
efforts to attract local and international investments in exploitation
of mineral resources in the Kingdom so as to develop the mining sector
and diversify the sources of income. Al-Nu'eimi pointed out that the
total area of the mining sites that were exploited by investors exceeded
780 square kilometers. He noted that the Ministry has issued 16 licenses
to five Saudi and foreign companies to explore for gold ores, and
non-precious and industrial metals at a number of sites. The Ministry
has also issued 18 licenses for exploration of all metal ores to 17
Saudi and foreign companies, he noted.
The report noted that the eight cement
companies had exploited lime ore, gypsum and the required materials for
cement industry. It noted that work was underway at Mahd-al-Dahab mine
by Ma’aden Company and at al-Sukheirat mine by the Saudi Precious
Metals Company. “But work has not yet started for exploitation of the
ores of copper, zinc and lead at al-Masani mine, and the mines of al-Mar
and al-Hijar are still under development,” the report noted.
As regards the mining concessions of
industrial metals, the report said the concessions included exploitation
of gypsum ore and the ores required for ceramic industry, as well as
salt ore and cilium sand ore, and added that the quantity of the
exploited ores reached 677,189 ton, including 400,000 ton of gypsum, 302
million square meter of ceramic, 12,000 ton of sanitary and 95,000 ton
of salt. The report said 21 licenses have been granted to a number of
Saudi companies for exploitation of a number of ore materials including
lime, basalt, marble and iron for their use in a number of industries.
The quantity of exploited ores has reached about 1,958,760 ton, the
report concluded.
Source: SPA
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Prince Sultan signs contracts
relating to Saudia privatization |
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Riyadh, 8th October 2000
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Prince Sultan bin Abdul Aziz, the Second
Deputy Premier, Minister of Defense and Aviation and Inspector General
and Chairman of the Board of Directors of Saudi Arabian Airlines
(Saudia), has signed contracts with firms of experts and financial and
legal consultants for the program of privatization of Saudia, here on
Sunday.
On the occasion, Prince Sultan bin
Abdul Aziz delivered a speech in which he stressed: 'The Kingdom has
chosen privatization as a strategic option to utilize the
capabilities, innovation and skills of its young people.' Prince
Sultan added: 'We begin today the project of studying the privatization
of Saudia, using the expertise of our people in cooperation with some
of the best consultancy firms in this field.' He continued: 'After
completion of the study for which contracts have been signed today, we
will present to our citizens a huge and successful facility that will
promise more success. It will operate as a profitable private company
providing distinguished service, making profit for stock holders and
operating on strictly economic base.'
Prince Sultan noted that the privatization
goals include: ‘Reducing the bureaucracy that undermines ambition
and limits the enthusiasm of the people in charge of economic firms.'
He added that privatization of governmental and semi-governmental
establishments ‘is a feature of political economy that recently has
attracted growing interest' and that the 'the active contribution of
all members and sectors of society has become an urgent requirement
for achieving balanced economic development.'
The consultancy contracts relating to
the privatization of Saudia were also signed by Chairman of the Board
of Directors of Paribas Bank Group Michel Pebereau on behalf of the
Financial Consultant Group and by Legal Management Consultant Peter
Charlton on behalf of the Legal Consultant Group.
The ceremony was attended by Prince
Fahd bin Abdullah bin Mohammad, Assistant of the Minister of Defense
and Aviation and Inspector General for Civil Aviation Affairs, Civil
Aviation President Dr Ali bin Abdulrahman Alkhalaf and other
officials.
Source: SPA
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Nine new Rift Valley Fever
cases reported
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Riyadh, 8th October 2000
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Nine new cases of Rift Valley Fever
(RVF) were reported from Saturday evening until Sunday evening,
according to a statement issued here Sunday night by the media
department at the Ministry of Health.
The Department's statement said the
total number of infected people up to Sunday evening, since the
appearance of RVF, has reached 291. One hundred and four people have
recovered and 64 have died.
Source: SPA
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Communications Minister
opens Car Fair
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Jeddah, 8th October 2000
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Minister of Communications Dr Nasser bin
Mohammed Al-Salloum inaugurated here on Saturday evening the
International Saudi Car Exhibition for 2001, organized by the Company
of Saudi Exhibitions. A number of international car manufacturing and
car rental companies are participating in the fair, displaying the
latest models of the cars for the year 2001, their accessories and
spare parts.
Source: SPA
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