DETROIT: Electric cars will pick up critical momentum in 2017, many in the auto industry believe — just not in North America.
Tighter emissions rules in China and Europe leave global carmakers and some consumers with little choice but to embrace plug-in vehicles, fueling an investment surge, said industry executives gathered in Detroit this past week for the city’s annual auto show. “Car electrification is an irreversible trend,” said Jacques Aschenbroich, chief executive of auto supplier Valeo, which has expanded sales by 50 percent in five years with a focus on electric, hybrid, connected and self-driving cars.
In Europe, green cars benefit increasingly from subsidies, tax breaks and other perks, while combustion engines face mounting penalties including driving and parking restrictions.
China, struggling with catastrophic pollution levels in major cities, is aggressively pushing plug-in vehicles. Its carrot-and-stick approach combines tens of billions in investment and research funding with subsidies and regulations designed to discourage driving fossil-fueled cars in big cities.
The road ahead for electric vehicles (EVs) in the US, however, could have more hairpin curves. Regulators in California and a group of other US states are pushing ahead with state-level rules mandating rising quotas for electric, or “zero- emission” vehicles.
But plug-in registrations in the US fell in 2015 and the market share of electric-only vehicles declined further to 0.37 percent in 2016, as cheap fuel drove demand for gas-guzzling sport utility vehicles and pickup trucks.
President-elect Donald Trump has pledged to roll back environmental and climate rules. Groups representing established automakers asked Trump to review Obama administration fuel economy targets out to 2025, even before the outgoing administration formally signed them into effect on Friday. Automakers have also asked Trump to work toward a single, national set of rules to govern automotive greenhouse gas emissions, a move that could spark legal challenges to electric car quotas in California and other states on grounds they present a separate standard.
Still, industry executives in Detroit said hitting the brakes on electric vehicles in the US would not relieve the pressure to bring them to market, because China and Europe are forging ahead with policies to expand sales of plug-in cars.
That is why Ford is moving forward with previously announced plans to invest $4.5 billion for plug-in vehicles by 2020, Chief Executive Mark Fields said earlier this month. “The industry is changing, the infrastructure is starting to build, and that is why our view is (that) within the next 15 years we will see more electrified offerings…,” Fields said as he unveiled a $700 million plan to build a battery SUV and other plug-in vehicles in Flat Rock, Michigan.
To drive the shift to electric, industry executives said they needed more help from governments.
In China, Europe and the US, automakers are advocating new infrastructure money go to public electric car charging networks.
In the US, EV manufacturers are pushing for the continuation of a $7,500 federal tax subsidy for consumers who buy a fully electric car. Even if Trump were to try to eliminate it, it would take time as Congress would have to act. “There is not a disagreement that the world is going electric,” California Air Resources Board Chair Mary Nichols said on the sidelines of the auto show. The debate, she said, was “over timing, not the goal.”
The Chinese electric car market cast its shadow over the Detroit auto show, where manufacturers showed off plug-in hybrid and electric models that will likely do scant business in the US. IHS Automotive predicts Chinese plug-in deliveries will hit 1 million in 2019, four years before the US. China pulled ahead in 2015 with a fourfold sales surge before adding 55 percent last year to 348,000 vehicles, with the US at 138,000.
“Look to China rather than the US for the future of electric cars,” Gerard Detourbet, a Renault-Nissan executive leading low-cost plug-in development, said recently. “China is compelled to act — that is the main difference.”
China, Europe drive shift to electric cars as US lags
China, Europe drive shift to electric cars as US lags
Closing Bell: Saudi main index closes in green at 11,760
RIYADH: Saudi Arabia’s Tadawul All Share Index rose on Thursday, gaining 50.89 points, or 0.43 percent, to close at 11,760.32.
The total trading turnover of the benchmark index was SR5.89 billion ($1.57 billion), as 123 of the listed stocks advanced, while 109 retreated.
The MSCI Tadawul Index increased by 6.13 points, or 0.41 percent, to close at 1,490.20.
The Kingdom’s parallel market Nomu dipped, losing 162.11 points, or 0.53 percent, to close at 30,521.53. This comes as 43 of the listed stocks advanced while 31 retreated.
The best-performing stock was Rabigh Refining and Petrochemical Co., with its share price surging by 9.87 percent to SR7.68.
Other top performers included Retal Urban Development Co., which saw its share price rise by 4.96 percent to SR16.50, and Ades Holding Co., which saw a 4.38 percent increase to SR16.70.
The worst performer of the day was Sinad Holding Co., whose share price fell by 6.91 percent to SR12.40.
Gulf General Cooperative Insurance Co. and SICO Saudi REIT Fund also saw declines, with their shares dropping by 6.19 percent and 5.18 percent to SR9.55 and SR3.66, respectively.
On the announcements front, Amwaj International Co. announced its financial results for 2024, with net profits reaching SR6.3 million, down by 60.1 percent compared to the previous year.
In a statement on Tadawul, the company attributed the decrease to restructuring inventory and marketing mix to accommodate new technology, which has a higher demand level and profit margin than before.
“The addition of new products will positively impact sales and results for 2025 and will boost cash flow,” the statement said.
In another announcement, Gulf General Cooperative Insurance Co. revealed its annual financial results for 2024.
The company’s insurance revenues in 2024 reached SR414.3 million, up from SR315.6 million in the previous year, marking a 31.2 percent surge.
This was principally driven by business growth and an increase in the motor line of business, according to a statement by the firm.
In today’s trading session, the group’s shares traded 6.19 percent lower on the main market to close at SR9.55.
Saudi Printing and Packaging Co. also announced its annual financial results for last year.
The company’s net loss surged to SR219.4 million from SR132.3 million in the previous year due to establishing a provision for credit losses in trade receivables and recording impairment in fixed assets, inventory, and goodwill.
In Thursday’s session, the firm’s shares traded 2.43 percent lower on the main market to close at SR10.42.
On another note, Saudi Industrial Investment Group has announced that its board of directors has recommended a share buyback of up to 11 million ordinary shares, subject to approval by the Extraordinary General Assembly.
In a statement on Tadawul, the group said that the buyback aims to hold 10 million shares as treasury while allocating 1 million shares to the company’s long-term employee incentives program.
The repurchase will be financed through internal resources, and the acquired shares will not carry voting rights in General Assembly meetings.
SIIG will comply with regulatory solvency requirements, with a solvency report from external auditors to be included in the EGA approval process.
In today’s trading session, SIIG’s shares traded 1.72 percent higher on the main market to close at SR15.36.
Saudi Aramco unveils direct air capture tech to reduce emissions
JEDDAH: Saudi Aramco has unveiled the Kingdom’s first direct air capture test unit, marking a significant milestone in its mission to reduce emissions and advance carbon capture technology for a sustainable future.
The unit is capable of removing 12 tonnes of carbon dioxide from the atmosphere each year, according to an official statement from Aramco.
As the world’s leading integrated energy and chemicals company, Aramco emphasized that the pilot plant, developed in partnership with Siemens Energy, represents a crucial step in enhancing DAC capabilities.
Ali A. Al-Meshari, Aramco’s senior vice president of technology oversight and coordination, highlighted that direct carbon dioxide capture technologies will play a pivotal role in mitigating greenhouse gas emissions, particularly in industries that are difficult to decarbonize.
“The test facility launched by Aramco is a key step in our efforts to scale up viable DAC systems, for deployment in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia and beyond. In addition to helping address emissions, the CO2 extracted through this process can in turn be used to produce more sustainable chemicals and fuels.” Al-Meshari said.
The development is in line with Saudi Arabia’s commitment to achieving net-zero emissions by 2060, following a circular carbon economy approach that emphasizes reducing, reusing, recycling, and removing carbon.
This initiative also supports the Saudi Green Initiative, which aims to reduce carbon emissions by 278 million tonnes annually by 2030 and transition 50 percent of the country’s energy sources to renewables.
The project reflects Aramco’s strong commitment to carbon capture, a critical component of its goal to achieve net-zero Scope 1 and Scope 2 greenhouse gas emissions across its wholly-owned and operated assets by 2050.
Aramco plans to use the new facility as a testing ground for next-generation CO2 capture materials specifically designed for Saudi Arabia’s unique climate. Additionally, the company aims to drive down costs, promoting the quicker adoption of DAC technologies in the region.
As part of its circular carbon economy strategy, Aramco is exploring methods for capturing CO2 both at emission sources and directly from the atmosphere, incorporating cutting-edge technological solutions, as stated in the company’s announcement.
In partnership with Siemens Energy, Aramco intends to scale up the technology and lay the groundwork for large-scale DAC facilities in the future.
Furthermore, the DAC test facility launch comes shortly after Aramco, along with its partners Linde and SLB, signed a shareholders’ agreement to develop a carbon capture and storage hub in Jubail. Phase one of the hub will have the capacity to capture 9 million tonnes of CO2 from three Aramco gas plants and other industrial sources.
In October 2023, Saudi Aramco announced its collaboration with major international companies to develop emissions reduction solutions, including lower-carbon hydrogen, direct air capture of CO2, and an innovative approach to CO2 storage.
Saudi Arabia’s US Treasury holdings see $10.6bn adjustment
RIYADH: Saudi Arabia’s holdings of US Treasury securities stood at $126.9 billion in January, reflecting a $10.6 billion decrease from December, according to the latest US Treasury data.
This marks a 7.71 percent month-on-month decline.
The change could reflect market fluctuations or potential portfolio rebalancing as the Kingdom navigates global economic conditions.
Official data showed that Saudi Arabia retained its 17th position among the largest holders of US Treasury securities in January. It remains the only Gulf Cooperation Council country to rank among the top 20 holders.
In a press release, the US Department of the Treasury said: “The sum total in January of all net foreign acquisitions of long-term securities, short-term US securities, and banking flows was a net TIC (Treasury International Capital) outflow of $48.8 billion. Of this, net foreign private outflows were $74.8 billion, and net foreign official inflows were $26.0 billion.”
The Kingdom’s holdings rose 1.4 percent in December compared to November, the report noted.
Saudi Arabia’s portfolio was split between $105.3 billion in long-term bonds — accounting for 83 percent of the total — and $21.6 billion in short-term bonds, representing 17 percent.
The press release noted that foreign residents increased their holdings of long-term US securities by $200 million, with private investors buying $59.2 billion, while foreign official institutions recorded net sales of $59 billion.
US residents also increased their holdings of long-term foreign securities, with net purchases totaling $45.4 billion.
Meanwhile, foreign residents boosted their US Treasury bill holdings by $32.3 billion, contributing to a $53.9 billion rise in total dollar-denominated short-term US securities.
Conversely, banks’ net dollar-denominated liabilities to foreign residents dropped by $57.5 billion.
Top holders of US Treasury bonds
Japan remained the largest investor in US Treasury securities in January, with holdings totaling $1.07 trillion, a 1.9 percent increase from December.
China ranked second with $760.8 billion in holdings, followed by the UK at $740.2 billion. Luxembourg and the Cayman Islands were ranked fourth and fifth on the list, with treasury holdings amounting to $409.9 billion and $404.5 billion.
Belgium secured the sixth spot with holdings worth $377.7 billion, closely followed by Canada with portfolios of $350.8 billion.
France came in eighth with treasury reserves worth $335.4 billion, followed by Ireland and Switzerland, with assets amounting to $329.7 billion and $301.1 billion, respectively. Taiwan was ranked 11th on the list, with treasury holdings worth $290.4 billion.
Hong Kong occupied the 12th spot with assets amounting to $255.9 billion, followed by Singapore and India, with holdings worth $247.6 billion and $225.7 billion, respectively.
Brazil held US treasury holdings worth $199.1 billion by the end of January. Norway followed with its holdings standing at $173.1 billion.
2.5m Syrians in Saudi Arabia to benefit from Dammam-Damascus flights
JEDDAH: Over 2.5 million Syrian residents in Saudi Arabia will benefit from direct flights between Dammam and Damascus, reconnecting families and enhancing transport between the two countries.
Routes between the two cities resumed on March 19 after a 13-year hiatus, with a Syrian Air plane departing King Fahd International Airport in Dammam for Damascus.
The morning flight complements the direct service from the Kingdom’s three major cities to Syria after Syrian Air resumed operations at Saudi airports last year.
Passenger flights between the two countries were halted in 2012 when Riyadh severed ties with Damascus over Bashar Assad’s crackdown on anti-government protesters at the start of the country’s civil war.
Services between Syria and the Kingdom resumed temporarily in May for pilgrims participating in the annual Hajj pilgrimage. The first group of 270 Syrian travelers arrived in Jeddah on May 28, just a few days after Saudi Arabia appointed Faisal bin Saud Al-Mujfel as its ambassador to Syria.
Commercial flights between Saudi Arabia and Syria resumed in July following a 12-year freeze amid improving relations. A Syrian Air plane carrying 170 passengers from Damascus landed in Riyadh, marking the return of regular services.
This was followed by the reinstatement of flights between Damascus and King Abdulaziz International Airport in Jeddah in November.
Mohammed Ayman Soussan, Syria’s ambassador to the Kingdom, who took office in Riyadh in January 2024, said the two countries had agreed to operate one round-trip flight per week between the two capitals.
After the diplomatic gap, Saudi Arabia and Syria agreed to resume consular services in April 2023 and restored full relations in May 2023.
Global flights resumed at Damascus International Airport in January for the first time since the ouster of President Bashar Assad last month.
Saudi Arabia has sent relief planes to Syria following the fall of the former president to assist with the ongoing crisis. These humanitarian efforts, organized by the King Salman Humanitarian Aid and Relief Center, also known as KSrelief, have delivered essential supplies, including food, shelter, and medical aid, to help the Syrian people cope with their challenging circumstances.
Additional flights to Syrian destinations are expected soon, following the reopening of Aleppo International Airport — the country’s second major airport — after nearly three months of closure.
The airport was closed in November during the offensive by rebel groups against the regime of Bashar Assad in early December.
UAE’s ADQ, Energy Capital partners to launch $25bn US venture
RIYADH: Abu Dhabi Developmental Holding Co., a sovereign investment entity from the UAE, and Energy Capital Partners are joining forces to establish a $25 billion energy partnership aimed at meeting power needs across 25 gigawatts of US-based projects.
The collaboration will see the UAE-based firm partner with the largest private owner of power generation and renewable energy in the US in a 50-50 venture.
This partnership will focus on developing new power generation and energy infrastructure tailored to support data centers, hyperscale cloud companies, and other energy-intensive industries.
The combined initial capital contribution from both partners is expected to reach $5 billion, according to a report from the Emirates News Agency or WAM.
A portion of the funds may also be directed toward investment opportunities in select international markets.
This strategic move is aligned with recent findings from the International Energy Agency, which forecasts the world’s electricity consumption to increase at its fastest rate in years. The surge is driven, in part, by rising demand from data centers and industrial electrification. In the US, electricity demand is expected to rise by an amount equivalent to California’s current power consumption over the next three years.
The partnership also supports predictions that global power demand from data centers will increase by 50 percent by 2027 and may grow by as much as 165 percent by 2030. This surge is largely driven by the expansion of artificial intelligence and high-density data centers.
The US Department of Energy further reports that data center load growth has tripled over the past decade and is expected to double or triple again by 2028.
In a statement, UAE Investment Minister Mohamed Hassan Al-Suwaidi, who also serves as managing director and group CEO of ADQ, emphasized the strategic importance of this collaboration. He stated: “The rapid acceleration of AI and its widespread adoption presents significant opportunities to address the growing power and infrastructure needs of data centers and hyperscalers. Meeting these power demands poses evolving challenges for governments worldwide to ensure a secure, stable, and commercially competitive electricity supply.”
“As an active investor with a strong focus on critical infrastructure and a proven ability to build long-term partnerships, we are well-positioned to address these shifting dynamics. Our partnership with ECP enables us to invest meaningfully in power generation and related infrastructure assets that will meet the growing demand for electricity, support industry progress, and help future-proof economies,” Al-Suwaidi added.
The statement further highlighted the critical need for reliable and consistent power in high-growth sectors, underscoring the necessity of nearby captive power plants to meet these demands. The partnership is designed to address these long-term needs, focusing on greenfield developments, new projects, and expansion opportunities, positioning it as a leader in power generation for the expanding US economy.
Doug Kimmelman, founder and executive chairman of ECP, remarked: “We are honored to collaborate with ADQ to provide the electricity resources required by the rapidly expanding AI and data center sector. The build-out of new power generation resources in the U.S. will necessitate significant, patient capital with a long-term investment horizon.”
