MEED
Richard Nield

Political crisis threatens transition in Egypt

Issue 14 6-12 April 2012
Egypt is enduring one of its most politically fragile periods since Hosni Mubarak was forced from office
Vital foreign investment into Egypt dries up

Issue 14 6-12 April 2012
Egypt’s struggling investment climate is having a major impact on the economy
Suez Canal delivers in tough year

Issue 11 16-22 March 2012
The Canal has emerged as one of the few bright spots in an otherwise flailing Egyptian economy, with revenues touching a record high in 2010/11
Middle East awaits steel demand recovery

Issue 9 2-8 March 2012
As the region’s governments invest in downstream iron and steel projects, expectations are high that the commissioning of these new plants will coincide with a rebound in prices
Oil rig market enjoys a resurgence

Issue 7 17-23 February 2012
The number of active rigs in the Middle East rose in 2011 on the back of strong crude oil prices
UAE economic growth to remain sluggish

Issue 4 27 January-2 February 2012
The continued global economic uncertainty and a new conservative policy in Abu Dhabi mean UAE economic growth is set to slow in 2012
Australian firm awaits final decision on Algerian gold mine sale

12 December 2011, 10:48 GMT
State energy firm Sonatrach likely to buy out international partner GMA Resources
Commercial International Bank

Issue 45 11-17 November 2011
The Egyptian lender is trying to grab market share while political uncertainty weighs on the economy
Commercial International Bank: MEED assessment

Issue 45 11-17 November 2011
The degree to which CIB has weathered the political and economic uncertainty of the past few months has been impressive
Q&A Hisham Ezz Al-Arab, Chairman, Commercial International Bank

Issue 45 11-17 November 2011
It’s been an interesting year for Egypt and a real test for the bank
Unfreezing of Libya’s assets could take six months

24 August 2011, 4:59 GMT
Delays at UN could delay rebuilding work in Libya
New Libya still a distant dream

Issue 34 26 August-1 September 2011
The Gaddafi regime may have fallen, but it will take time to restore order and stability
Options limited against Al-Assad

Issue 34 26 August-1 September 2011
Despite the international outcry against the Syrian regime, the lack of a clear course of effective action means Bashar al-Assad is likely to battle out the challenges to his leadership in the short term
Political uncertainty drags on in Egypt

Issue 31 5-11 August 2011
The slow progress of political reform continues to frustrate people that are desperate for change
Unrest hits Europe gas strategy

Issue 31 5-11 August 2011
Civil war in Libya and uncertainty over available gas from Egypt and Algeria means major additions to supply from the three major North African markets is unlikely
Old tensions fail to disappear in Sudan

Issue 29 22-28 July 2011
As Sudan splits, the issues that caused the bloody civil war will not be easily consigned to history
Turkey is turning towards the East

Turkey
A lack of progress on accession to the EU in recent years has seen Ankara increasingly emphasise its ties with its Muslim neighbours
Turkey: A strategic route for energy

Turkey
Turkey is making the most of its geographical location between the energy-rich Middle East and Central Asia region and consumers in Europe
Turkish leaders consolidate backing

Turkey
Under its ruling party, Turkey has enjoyed unprecedented political stability and economic growth. But unrest in Syria will test the government’s foreign policies
Morocco’s quiet revolution

Issue 28 15-21 July 2011
The North African nation becomes first in the region to agree a programme for constitutional reform
North African instability dampens Casablanca bourse

Issue 27 8-14 July 2011
Political instability has had an impact on stock markets across the region. Morocco is no exception
Algiers’ renewable energy challenge

Issue 24 17-23 June 2011
The government has unveiled an ambitious plan to reshape Algeria’s energy mix by 2020. But the necessary foreign investment is likely to be hard to come by given the country’s nationalistic tendencies
Power integration gains popularity in Egypt

Issue 24 17-23 June 2011
Egypt is embarking on an ambitious plan to link up its electricity grid with Saudi Arabia. But full regional integration is a long way off due to perennial power shortages and pricing issues
UAE set to benefit from stability

9 June 2011, 0:09 GMT
As political unrest sweeps the region, the Emirates can expect heightened growth as foreign investors seek a more stable environment and the capital ramps up oil production to make up for lost output
Algeria and Morocco: Facing up to slower growth

9 June 2011, 0:07 GMT
Economic growth in Algeria and Morocco is likely to be constrained by the turbulent political environment in the North Africa region
Sudan prepares for split

9 June 2011, 0:03 GMT
Co-operation between the North and the South will be key to economic development. But disputes over oil resources and debt will hamper progress
GCC trade unity faces hurdles

GCC Anniversary
Despite moves to facilitate trade between the six GCC states, political spats and institutional problems are preventing the region from achieving greater integration
Downstream plans slow to progress in Algeria

Issue 19 13-19 May 2011
There is still life in Algeria’s proposed ethane cracker and methanol plants, but it will be some time before either project sees the light of day
Q&A Mondher Makni, chief marketing officer, Telnet

Issue 19 13-19 May 2011
The downturn in Europe and the US was an opportunity for us because a lot of companies were looking for ways to reduce their operating costs
Telnet

Issue 19 13-19 May 2011
The ICT firm is the first high-tech company to list in Tunisia
Telnet: MEED Assessment

Issue 19 13-19 May 2011
The majority of Telnet’s income is generated overseas, reducing its exposure to local political risk
Tunis plots asset sale to aid growth

Issue 17 29 April-5 May 2011
The former regime’s assets could provide a much-needed boost to foreign investment
Search for justice begins in Egypt

Issue 16 22-28 April 2011
Investigations into alleged corruption by Mubarak’s government is having a severe impact on some of Egypt’s largest industrial and construction firms
Unrest takes toll on Egypt's economic growth

Issue 16 22-28 April 2011
The political upheaval and lingering uncertainty in Egypt means a long wait for a return to the strong economic growth that the country enjoyed until the end of 2010
Algeria to approve zinc mine project by end of April

Issue15 15-21 April 2011
Feasibility study for $600m scheme was completed in 2010
Algeria licencing round fails to attract foreign interest

Issue 14 8-14 April 2011
Algeria has attracted negligible interest from international oil companies
Libya’s divided future

Issue 12 25-31 March 2011
The country is facing a protracted civil war between the east and west
Crucial months ahead in Tunisia

Issue 11 18-24 March 2011
Tunisia’s reform movement has achieved a great deal in recent weeks, but a smooth and swift transition to democracy cannot be taken for granted
Algeria is no stranger to uprisings

Issue 9 4-10 March 2011
Although the protests of recent weeks fall short of a revolution, dissatisfaction is mounting in Algeria and will not abate without concrete solutions
Garang Diing Akuong - Energy & Mining Minister, South Sudan

Issue 6 11-17 February 2011
With the stage set for the creation of Africa’s newest state, the successful implementation of South Sudan’s energy policy will be crucial to peace in the region
South Sudan government mulls new $5bn capital

Issue 6 11-17 February 2011
Finance minister says proposed capital city will be in a more central location
South Sudan referendum

Issue 4 28 January-3 February 2011
Millions of South Sudanese voted in an independence referendum, which could cut Africa’s biggest country in two
Beirut eyes offshore oil and gas round

Issue 2 14-20 January 2011
Lebanon hopes to launch a licensing round for offshore oil and gas exploration this year, but translating unproven potential into genuine resources will require more political unity
Byblos Bank

Issue 2 14-20 January 2011
The Lebanese lender’s continued strong performance is threatened by political instability
Byblos Bank MEED Assessment

Issue 2 14-20 January 2011
The greatest threat to the continued strong performance of Byblos Bank is political instability
Cairo takes prompt gas policy action

Issue 2 14-20 January 2011
As gas production slows and local demand rises, Egypt is introducing policies designed to regulate consumption such as reducing subsidies and increasing prices
Gas production in Algeria fails to reach potential

Issue 2 14-20 January 2011
Despite a management reshuffle following an investigation into corruption, state energy firm Sonatrach has yet to boost gas supply in Algeria. Are shortsighted strategy and lack of investment to blame?
Sudan faces dividing times over referendum

Issue 52 24-30 December 2010
Whatever the outcome of January’s referendum, Sudan risks sliding into a deeper crisis
Challenging political times for Riyadh

Issue 51 17-23 December 2010
Riyadh is losing ground to Tehran in the battle for influence in the Middle East. Without a clear strategy, it is choosing to play the long game
The fast road to economic recovery for Saudi Arabia

Issue 51 17-23 December 2010
Sustained government spending and resurgent oil prices have brought a speedy return to growth for Riyadh. The challenge will be finding the capacity to deliver its spending plans
Orascom takeover likely to go ahead, with or without Djezzy

Issue 50 10-16 December 2010
Chief executive officer says Algerian unit is not holding back sale of Orascom
Laying the foundations for presidential elections in Egypt

Issue 49 3-9 December 2010
Cairo ensures it has absolute control of parliament ahead of 2011 presidential elections
BP continues to develop Algeria assets ahead of likely divestment

Issue 48 26 November - 2 December 2010
UK oil major receives bids for to develop fields
Kuwait's real-estate sector: Facing up to sluggish growth

Issue 48 26 November - 2 December 2010
The real-estate market in Kuwait is showing signs of recovery after the impact of the global economic downturn, but it is likely to come at a measured pace
Political consensus drives optimism in Kuwait

Issue 48 26 November - 2 December 2010
Parliament approval of an estimated $104bn five-year infrastructure development programme offers renewed hope that Kuwait is finally moving in the right direction
Hala Lattouf: Jordan’s minister of social development

Issue 47 19-25 November 2010
Responsible for helping the country’s poor, Hala Lattouf has a high profile in Jordan’s government as it strives to modernise the country on limited resources
Algeria closing out international business

15 November 2010, 0:00 GMT
The state is asserting its dominance over foreign investors in no uncertain terms in Algiers
Facing up to higher gas prices in the UAE

Issue 45 5-11 November 2010
The Dolphin deal secured gas supplies at subsided rates, but as the supply deficit deepens, the UAE will have to accept that higher prices will be the new reality
New Sonatrach management team focuses on hydrocarbon infrastructure

Issue 42 15-21 October 2010
Sonatrach’s new management team is focusing once again on developing the country’s hydrocarbons infrastructure, but meeting rising domestic demand will remain a major problem
Riyadh’s resurgent diplomacy

Issue 40 1-7 October 2010
Saudi Arabia’s increasingly active role in Middle East politics is motivated by a desire to restore its status in the region
Saudi Arabia bolsters air power

Issue 40 1-7 October 2010
If a planned $60bn arms deal goes ahead, Riyadh will have a stronger and more adaptable military, but it will still be reliant on the US
Q&A: Miassar Nerabeh, Head of United Oil in Iraq

Issue No 39 24-30 September 2010
The company’s main areas of focus are Iraq and Egypt
United Oil

Issue No 39 24-30 September 2010
The Syrian drilling firm hopes to capitalise on its track record in Iraq to win work in its home market
United Oil: MEED Assessment

Issue No 39 24-30 September 2010
The Syrian drilling firm hopes to capitalise on its track record in Iraq to win work in its home market
Political reform falls short in Jordan

Issue No 37 10-16 September 2010
While Jordan’s economic reforms have been well received, its programme for political and social improvement is still under scrutiny
Beirut faces real test of stability

Issue 35 27 August - 2 September 2010
In recent weeks, Lebanon has survived a series of threats to its political stability. It may not hold out much longer as the UN tribunal finalises findings of the Rafik Hariri murder
Building on impressive economic growth in Lebanon

Issue 35 27 August - 2 September 2010
Despite persistent high public debt and political vulnerabilities, Lebanon is enjoying its fourth consecutive year of strong growth across most economic sectors
Syrian gas and oil production capacity turns corner

Issue 35 27 August - 2 September 2010
After years of decline, Syria’s oil and gas prospects are looking up, but substantial obstacles need to be overcome to ensure its long-term future as a regional gas hub
Doha prepares to hand over the GCC leadership to Manama

Issue No 28 9-15 July 2010
Delivering political integration remains as challenging as ever
New team for Sonatrach in Algiers

Issue No 27 2 - 8 July 2010
The appointment of a new team to manage Algiers’ energy resources has been welcomed by investors, but there are concerns it may take a conservative approach to development
Egypt's economy shows resilience during financial crisis

Supplement: Middle East Economic Review 2010
Economic diversification and strong domestic demand has helped the country reduce the impact of the global crisis
Egypt's economy shows resilience during financial crisis

Supplement: Middle East Economic Review 2010
Economic diversification and strong domestic demand has helped the country reduce the impact of the global crisis
The UAE's economy: a tale of two cities in 2010

Supplement: Middle East Economic Review 2010
Buoyant oil prices have restored Abu Dhabi’s prospects, following its contraction in the wake of the global economic slowdown, but slow growth in Dubai continues to put a brake on the UAE’s recovery
The UAE's economy: a tale of two cities in 2010

Supplement: Middle East Economic Review 2010
Buoyant oil prices have restored Abu Dhabi’s prospects, following its contraction in the wake of the global economic slowdown, but slow growth in Dubai continues to put a brake on the UAE’s recovery
Algeria: End of the liberal experiment

Issue No 23 4-10 June 2010
Long-awaited cabinet reshuffle signals the end of Algeria’s flirtation with a free market economy
Doha’s diversification of revenue

Issue No 23 4-10 June 2010
The acquisition of Harrods has thrown Qatar Investment Authority into the spotlight, but the state-owned fund ranks poorly when it comes to transparency
Analysis: The Sonatrach corruption scandal

Issue No 15 9-15 April 2010
Senior staff under investigation for alleged corruption in contract awards
Egyptian presidential candidate ElBaradei testing the waters

Issue No 15 9-15 April 2010
Mohamed ElBaradei received a rapturous reception when he arrived in Cairo in February, but pushing through real political reforms in Egypt will be a challenge
Sonatrach

Issue No 15 9-15 April 2010
Contract awards will grind to a halt as the corruption probe continues at Sonatrach
Sonatrach: MEED Assessment

Issue No 15 9-15 April 2010
Delays attributed to the global economic crisis and bureaucratic decision-making processes
Regional gas exports look east

Issue No 8 19-25 February 2010
Producers seek new markets as demand falls and US output rises
Doha’s delicate diplomatic balancing act

Issue No 6 5-11 February 2010
Qatar, economically dependent on both Iran and the US, will need to draw on its renowned diplomatic skills to maintain relations
Developers forsake the Maghreb

Issue No 5 29 January - 4 February 2010
Maghreb governments are seeking to plug an investment gap left by the impact of the downturn in the Gulf and the exodus of developers from their real estate markets
Scandal envelops Sonatrach

Issue No 5 29 January - 4 February 2010
Management turmoil at Algeria’s state oil company could derail delicate negotiations on petrochemicals projects and delay the award of key refinery contracts
Algiers' plans for expansion unravel

Issue No 3 15-21 January 2010
A range of upstream developments promise increased production of oil and gas in Algeria, but its recent history is one of falling short of its goals and failing to find bidders for new contracts
Doubts deepen over future of downstream energy projects

Issue No 2 8-14 January 2010
Contractors complain of lack of progress on refinery and petrochemicals deals
Tehran’s grand gas ambitions

Issue No 45 6-12 November 2009
Iran aims to almost double gas production and become a major supplier to Europe within the next five years, but its plans are unlikely to be achieved
Doha's plan to increase gas output

Issue No 42 16-22 October 2009
Qatargas chairman says debottlenecking could add 12 million tonnes a year to its production capacity
Interview: Youssef Boutros-Ghali

8 April 2009, 16:11 GMT
The Egyptian finance minister is planning a series of public-private partnership schemes to attract international investment and stimulate economic growth.
Algiers: Building a modern capital

2 April 2009, 15:48 GMT
A series of major mixed-use projects and infrastructure developments are transforming Algiers after years of civil war and underinvestment.
Saudi Arabia embraces reform

26 March 2009, 15:50 GMT
Saudi Arabia is removing the barriers to enterprise as part of its long-term plan to become one of the top 10 locations in the world to do business.
Political infighting stalls development in Kuwait

19 March 2009, 20:31 GMT
The resignation of the cabinet and the dissolution of the National Assembly are raising uncertainty over the future of Kuwait’s landmark projects and testing the strength of its democratic constitution.
Dubai property laws have to be revised

13 March 2009, 17:38 GMT
If Dubai wants to stem the outflow of foreign workers, it needs to change its regulatory framework.
Emirates find economic strength through unity

13 March 2009, 12:58 GMT
The $10bn purchase of Dubai bonds by the federal government has not only saved the emirate from the embarrassment of defaulting on its debt, but has also eased fears that it would be left to fend for itself.
GCC hydrocarbons contract awards: Sas negotiations show the way

8 March 2009, 12:40 GMT
The parties on the Sas deal have shown that there can be room for manoeuvre on more than just price.
Tehran’s struggle for oil and gas self-sufficiency

5 March 2009, 18:11 GMT
Despite its massive hydrocarbon and gas reserves, political isolation, falling oil prices and inflexible contract terms mean the republic faces an uphill struggle to overcome its energy challenges.
Contractor survey: Compromise keeps projects on track

5 March 2009, 17:55 GMT
Price renegotiations on major oil and gas projects are maintaining momentum in the Gulf market, but MEED’s annual survey of contractors highlights uncertainty over some planned projects.
Maroc Telecom: MEED Assessment

5 March 2009, 16:51 GMT
Despite strong performance in 2008, the entry of a third operator in Morocco means 2009 will be a more challenging year
Maroc Telecom

5 March 2009, 16:20 GMT
The operator’s performance at home and abroad has been impressive, but it faces a challenging year.
Algerian defence and security

22 February 2009, 7:48 GMT
Six leading figures in the Algerian defence and security sector: Ahmed Gaid Salah, Abdelmalek Guenaizia, Ahmed Sanhadji, Mohamed Mediene, Noureddine Zerhouni and Ali Tounsi.
Iran struggles to balance budget

15 February 2009, 10:33 GMT
Iran is set to run a deficit in the coming financial year as its spending plans and reluctance to remove subsidies ahead of forthcoming elections force the government to dip into its reserves.
Opec seeks to enforce production quotas

15 February 2009, 6:56 GMT
Oil cartel to target member states that flout rules before demanding any further cuts to output.
Oil majors criticise Baghdad over new contract terms

15 February 2009, 6:15 GMT
Firms call for a rethink in approach and say conditions could undermine plans to rebuild the industry.
Shell to hold talks on gas deal with Baghdad

10 February 2009, 17:59 GMT
Baghdad will meet with UK / Dutch energy major Shell Group on 11 February to revise the terms of an associated gas development deal which could lead to the formation of a joint venture by the end of 2009.
Outlook: Oil price falls put regional development on hold

11 January 2009, 8:45 GMT
After a five-year boom in the energy sector, the decline in oil prices is set to lead to delays on many planned projects in the region this year, but the recovery is expected to begin by 2010.
Outlook: Oil price falls put regional development on hold

11 January 2009, 8:45 GMT
After a five-year boom in the energy sector, the decline in oil prices is set to lead to delays on many planned projects in the region this year, but the recovery is expected to begin by 2010.
Algeria's tough terms deter energy majors

11 January 2009, 8:33 GMT
Algiers’ reluctance to improve licensing conditions is undermining its plans to increase oil and gas exports, with the latest bidding round failing to attract significant interest.
Why Tripoli is revising its ambitions

11 January 2009, 8:01 GMT
A lack of significant hydrocarbons discoveries following a series of licence awards, combined with the impact of the falling oil price, are forcing the state to lower its production targets.
Sector outlook 2009: Energy

2 January 2009, 13:48 GMT
As demand for oil and gas products declines, the Middle East's refinery projects face major delays.
Aramco drives down costs

21 December 2008, 13:50 GMT
As materials prices tumble, the state energy giant is seeking revised terms from contractors on major projects under its upstream development programme.
Slowdown forces Riyadh to prioritise

21 December 2008, 13:37 GMT
The falling oil price and global credit crisis will delay some of the kingdom’s major projects in 2009, but its underlying economic strength mean the prospects for the sector remain strong.
Algerian policy shift threatens upgrade plans

11 December 2008, 18:12 GMT
Algiers will have to reconsider its strategy of taking a majority stake in all future petrochemicals projects involving foreign partners if it is to attract the investment it needs into the sector.
Credit crunch tests Algiers’ immunity

5 December 2008, 16:20 GMT
While its isolation from the international banking system has largely insulated Algeria from the global financial crisis, its privatisation programme has stalled and falling oil prices are hitting project funding.
GCC states search for a single voice

14 November 2008, 19:14 GMT
The financial slowdown has been a litmus test of the GCC’s ability to offer a regional response to a global shock, but co-ordinated action is still lacking.
Gulf Gas consumers must pay more

31 October 2008, 18:57 GMT
Fast-rising domestic consumption and poor economic incentives for exploration mean supply is increasingly falling short of demand.
Africa gas plans spark Europe’s interest

30 October 2008, 21:11 GMT
A $15bn project to transport Nigerian gas via Algeria to Europe has become the focus of a political chess game, as Russia’s Gazprom stamps its mark on the plan and the EU offers project funding.
Gas exports: States juggle competing gas export demands

30 October 2008, 19:52 GMT
Developments in Qatar and Algeria will bring substantial amounts of gas to the global market in coming years, but export capacity elsewhere in the region is at a standstill.
Kuwaiti oil production plans hang in the balance

24 October 2008, 17:12 GMT
Project Kuwait, the government’s plan to bring in international oil companies to help exploit its oil reserves, will remain in limbo unless the objections of the National Assembly can be overcome.
Contract row stalls Kuwaiti energy plans

23 October 2008, 19:22 GMT
Parliamentary concerns over awards for the giant Al-Zour refinery have left Kuwait’s downstream oil and gas developsment programme in disarray.
Monetary policy eases inflation in Kuwait

23 October 2008, 16:56 GMT
The Kuwaiti government has been struggling to control rising prices for the past year, but the global downturn and a series of fiscal measures are finally having an impact.
Kuwait weighs up calls for intervention in banking sector

23 October 2008, 16:55 GMT
Kuwait’s stock market has succumbed to the global financial downturn despite its robust banking system, and the government is coming under increasing pressure to intervene.
Kuwait's first steps on the road to reform

23 October 2008, 16:24 GMT
Kuwait’s successful recovery from the damage caused by the Iraqi invasion has been laudable, but gridlock in parliament risks the state being left behind economically.
Rising power demand forces Amman to act

2 October 2008, 18:19 GMT
The success of Jordan’s efforts to cope with rapidly growing electricity consumption hinge on its ability to accelerate the development of a third independent power project.
Saudi Arabia vindicated over oil

19 September 2008, 11:55 GMT
Falling oil prices have shown that Riyadh was right to argue that record highs earlier this year were being driven by speculation rather than a lack of supply in the market.
Algiers reins in foreign ownership

14 September 2008, 6:56 GMT
President Bouteflika’s plans to limit the activities of overseas firms will undermine economic reform.
Region needs better rail links

5 September 2008, 15:08 GMT
The Gulf and North Africa are both investing in high-speed rail links to provide an alternative to air travel.
Special Report: Lebanon - Building on political stability

29 August 2008, 12:55 GMT
The political agreement reached in Doha on 21 May has finally given Beirut a sense of stability that has long been lacking.
Special Report: Telecoms - The region's top 10 operators

22 August 2008, 13:37 GMT
Sometimes it seems that the only telecoms companies operating in the Middle East are Saudi Telecom, the UAE’s Etisalat and Kuwait-based Zain, such is the ability of the three companies to become involved in every takeover, strategic investment, partnership and licence round in the region. However, there is life outside the top three telecoms businesses.
Lebanon construction - Six most important consultants and contractors

15 August 2008, 17:58 GMT
The six most important Lebanese construction consultants and contractors.
Iraq's oil revenues must be spent wisely

15 August 2008, 17:44 GMT
As Baghdad’s oil production continues to rise, the government’s biggest problem is no longer how to earn money, but how to spend it.
Charges endanger Sudan's fragile peace

15 August 2008, 11:53 GMT
A petition to arrest Sudan’s President Omar al-Bashir for war crimes risks destabilising the already difficult political situation in the country.
Amman to approve third independent power project

8 August 2008, 16:31 GMT
Jordan’s energy regulator is expected to give the go-ahead in mid-August for the country’s third independent power project (IPP), according to the head of the country’s state-owned power company.
Governance: Barriers to integration

31 July 2008, 13:58 GMT
With only limited ties between the major economies of the Maghreb, plans to create a ‘Union for the Mediterranean’ look as remote as ever.
Interview with Jordan’s finance minister, Hamad Kasasbeh

22 July 2008, 13:15 GMT
Hamad Kasasbeh talks about the dollar-dinar peg, rising inflation and the effect of Iraqi refugees on the economy.
Vast reserve offers hope for Amman's future

17 July 2008, 13:45 GMT
With 40 billion tonnes of oil shale deposits, Amman expects to begin commercial production by 2020. Natural Resources Authority director general Maher Hijazin outlines the plan.
Jordan's nuclear plan makes progress

17 July 2008, 13:33 GMT
Jordan is on track to achieve its long-term ambition of developing atomic energy to reduce its reliance on imported hydrocarbons after a series of agreements with international firms.
Tackling Jordan's inflation problem

17 July 2008, 13:13 GMT
In an exclusive interview, Jordan’s finance minister outlines the challenges he faces in dealing with inflation while attempting to restrain government debt.
Amman’s struggle to balance the budget

17 July 2008, 12:36 GMT
The government’s policy of cutting subsidies to reduce its deficit is causing growing resentment among the population, many of whom are finding it difficult to afford the basic necessities of life.
Amman’s struggle to balance the budget

17 July 2008, 11:59 GMT
The government’s policy of cutting subsidies to reduce its deficit is causing growing resentment among the population, many of whom are finding it difficult to afford the basic necessities of life.
Survey shows red tape key reason for project delays

4 July 2008, 17:47 GMT
Bureaucracy is the key reason for delays to projects carried out by the region’s state oil companies, according to a survey published in MEED this week.
Majors deny demanding share of Iraqi oil

4 July 2008, 17:03 GMT
Much-needed service agreements are delayed as Baghdad claims oil firms refused work based on fees.
National oil firms need to improve

4 July 2008, 15:49 GMT
With oil revenues higher than ever, there is little incentive for state oil giants to improve their performance.
NOC Survey 2008: Sudapet/Nilepet

4 July 2008, 14:25 GMT
Sudan’s splintered state oil sector shows promise despite civil war and US sanctions.
NOC Survey 2008: Sonatrach

4 July 2008, 13:49 GMT
Despite political and staffing issues, the Algerian state oil firm is in a strong position.
NOC survey 2008 results: The need for greater independence

4 July 2008, 12:28 GMT
MEED’s second annual survey of national oil companies reveals industry concerns over a lack of transparency at the region’s state energy firms and political interference in their affairs.
Iraq launches oil and gas round

30 June 2008, 15:40 GMT
Iraq’s oil minister has announced details of the country’s first oil and gas licensing round since the US-led invasion of Iraq in 2003.
Riyadh cannot control oil price

27 June 2008, 16:24 GMT
The separation of the price of oil and the fundamentals of supply and demand is increasingly obvious.
Petrochemicals capacity grows despite slowdown

27 June 2008, 15:20 GMT
Cheap feedstock gives Middle East producers a competitive advantage as world economic growth slows.
International relations: Controlling the oil price

27 June 2008, 11:43 GMT
Whether it is market speculators or producers that are to blame for the soaring cost of oil, Riyadh’s ability to exert influence has been weakened.
Riyadh seeks economic balance

27 June 2008, 11:32 GMT
With the government planning to spend billions of dollars on much-needed infrastructure projects, reducing spiralling inflation will be a difficult challenge.
Logistics: Strengthening the supply chain

13 June 2008, 13:34 GMT
Petrochemicals developers are addressing infrastructure issues ranging from weak processes and materials shortages to transport capacity, but a lack of skilled manpower is likely to slow progress.
Amman to sign nuclear deal with US

6 June 2008, 16:10 GMT
Further accords with Russia and China will pave the way for $10bn investment programme.
Qatar - Increasing competition in the fertilisers market

1 June 2008, 9:49 GMT
Qatar’s status as a world leader in fertiliser production is already established. When the Qafco-4 urea train came on stream at Ras Laffan in April 2004, Qatar Fertiliser Company (Qafco) became the largest single-site producer of urea in the world.
Petrochemicals: Diversification plans hit delays

30 May 2008, 14:38 GMT
Plans to develop of some of the region’s largest petrochemicals facilities are falling behind schedule because of rising construction costs and a lack of ethane to use as feedstock.
Qatar Petroleum International: Time to build on overseas links

30 May 2008, 13:11 GMT
As part of Doha’s economic diversification policy, Qatar Petroleum International has signed a series of headline deals with foreign firms. Now it needs to turn these into concrete investments.
Developing the Saudi housing market

23 May 2008, 14:45 GMT
Local banks are eagerly awaiting the introduction of a mortgage law as population growth and economic success increase the demand for housing in the kingdom.
Algeria's project sector attracts big banks

23 May 2008, 12:54 GMT
Algiers signed its largest ever project finance deals in April and at least $20bn worth of further contracts are on the horizon. With growing investment opportunities, international banks are keen to get involved.
MEED's national oil company survey: Last chance to enter

7 May 2008, 15:41 GMT
MEED is running its second annual survey of NOCs in the Middle East and North Africa.
Private banking - Six key people

25 April 2008, 15:44 GMT
The six most influential private bankers in the country: Kamal Driss, Gerald Lacaze, Laurent Dupuch, Hocine Mouffok, Raouf Bohli and Rachid Sekak.
Gerald Lacaze

Issue No 17 25 April - 1 May 2008
An influential private banker in Algeria
Hocine Mouffok

Issue No 17 25 April - 1 May 2008
An influential private banker in Algeria
Kamal Driss

Issue No 17 25 April - 1 May 2008
An influential private banker in Algeria
Laurent Dupuch

Issue No 17 25 April - 1 May 2008
An influential private banker in Algeria
Rachid Sekak

Issue No 17 25 April - 1 May 2008
An influential private banker in Algeria
Raouf Bohli

Issue No 17 25 April - 1 May 2008
An influential private banker in Algeria
Tripoli changes the rules

18 April 2008, 12:25 GMT
Foreign companies working in Libya’s hydrocarbons sector will have to work hard to stay ahead following the introduction of new regulations aimed at helping local firms.
First Calgary pursues gas plans in Algeria despite board dispute

11 April 2008, 16:33 GMT
Energy minister warns a successful bid to oust board will endanger deal.
Cairo’s economic dilemma

11 April 2008, 13:09 GMT
While the government’s reform programme is boosting the economy, the poor risk being left behind. Can Cairo balance its competing demands?
Pressure mounts on government

11 April 2008, 12:56 GMT
The ruling National Democratic Party faced strikes, civil unrest and bread shortages in the run-up to local elections on 8 April. But real political change is unlikely in the short term.
Special Report: Egypt - Struggling with subsidies

11 April 2008, 12:37 GMT
Over the past three years, the aggressive economic reforms of Prime Minister Ahmed Nazif’s government have transformed the Egyptian economy. But they have also upset the political apple cart.
Oil price hits new record

10 April 2008, 12:07 GMT
Oil reached a record price of more than $112 a barrel on 9 April, following a surprise fall in US inventories.
Enel signs gas agreement with Cairo

9 April 2008, 17:50 GMT
Italy’s Enel has signed a co-operation agreement with Egypt’s state-energy gas company covering activities in the gas and power sector.
Eni signs agreement to boost Cairo’s energy efficiency

9 April 2008, 16:02 GMT
Italy’s Eni has signed an agreement with two state companies in Egypt to study ways to increase the efficiency of the country’s power generation facilities.
First Calgary’s Algerian gas venture continues to move forward

9 April 2008, 14:38 GMT
Canada’s First Calgary Petroleums (FCP) is pushing ahead with plans for the development of its oil and gas concession in Algeria despite fears that a coming vote on the dismissal of the current vote could jeopardise the company’s operations in the country.
African Development Bank increases funding for Moroccan solar power plant

8 April 2008, 14:52 GMT
The African Development Bank has granted a further $237.9m loan to Rabat to fund a planned solar power project at Ain Beni Mathar in northeast Morocco.
Qatar Petroleum International buys upstream stake in Mauritania

8 April 2008, 13:37 GMT
Qatar Petroleum International (QPI) has bought a stake in two permits in Mauritania from France’s Total.
Algeria plans new east-west road link

7 April 2008, 15:24 GMT
Algeria’s state roads agency has issued tenders for the contract to carry out technical studies for a 1,000-kilometre road across the north of the country, according to the official news agency Algerie Presse Service.
Abu Dhabi signs investment agreement with Libya

7 April 2008, 15:09 GMT
Tripoli has signed an investment agreement with Abu Dhabi worth $3.9bn.
Galsi gas pipeline stalls as route awaits authorisation

4 April 2008, 14:47 GMT
Project to transport Algerian gas to Italy faces delay until 2012.
Petrofac wins Syrian gas contract

4 April 2008, 14:36 GMT
UAE-based Petrofac International has won a $477m contract to build a gas treatment plant in Ebla, in northwest Syria.
Gulf benefits from soaring demand for liquefied natural gas

4 April 2008, 12:12 GMT
The global LNG industry is expanding rapidly, but there are concerns over dwindling supplies beyond 2012.
Decision time for Trans-Saharan gas pipeline

3 April 2008, 11:14 GMT
Two key agreements are under negotiation that will decide the fate of a project to develop a 4,000-kilometre- long pipeline to bring Nigerian gas to Algeria via Niger, according to sources close to the project.
Cairo lifts customs duties in effort to control food prices

3 April 2008, 11:03 GMT
The Egyptian government has removed customs duties on imports of a number of basic food products in an effort to mitigate the impact of rapidly rising prices.
Cairo to increase wages and subsidies

2 April 2008, 17:58 GMT
The government is set to approve an increase in food subsidies of more than 100 per cent and a 15 per cent increase in wages for the forthcoming financial year, Egypt’s deputy finance minister told MEED in an exclusive interview on 2 April.
Rabat plans high speed rail link for 2013

1 April 2008, 13:47 GMT
A new high-speed rail link between two of Morocco’s largest cities will be operational by 2013, the head of the kingdom’s state rail authority has announced.
Algiers pledges East-West motorway will be on time

1 April 2008, 13:15 GMT
Algeria claims it is on track to deliver its flagship east-west motorway project by the end of 2009.
Rabat invests $2bn in low-cost housing

31 March 2008, 17:54 GMT
The Moroccan government has committed more than $2bn over the next four years on the construction of affordable homes, according to the kingdom’s official news agency, Maghreb Arabe Presse .
Dana Gas to spend $170m on exploration in Egypt

31 March 2008, 17:23 GMT
The UAE’s Dana Gas will spend $170m in 2008 on an oil and gas exploration and development campaign in Egypt that could double the company’s reserves in the country.
Project delays hit Algiers’ export targets

28 March 2008, 15:57 GMT
Troubled oil and gas schemes threaten to undermine government plans to boost production by 2010.
Investment in Morocco rises 50 per cent

27 March 2008, 19:41 GMT
Foreign direct investment (FDI) into Morocco increased 50 per cent in 2007, according to the government’s latest figures, while strong growth continued in the tourism sector.
Spanish sign up for Algerian desalination facilities

27 March 2008, 18:49 GMT
Two Spanish water companies have signed agreements to build seawater desalination facilities in the north of Algeria, according to the country’s official press agency.
Algeria revives gas export project at Arzew

26 March 2008, 14:49 GMT
Algiers’ attempts to revive an estimated $3bn project to build a liquefied natural gas terminal at Arzew in the northwest are taking shape, with interested companies due to submit price estimates for the main construction package by mid-April.
Sonatrach announces first gas discovery of 2008

26 March 2008, 13:54 GMT
The first gas find of 2008 has been made in Algeria, according to state energy company Sonatrach.
Cairo to buy gas from Nile delta concession

25 March 2008, 16:03 GMT
Germany’s RWE Dea has signed an agreement to sell gas from its offshore acreage in the Nile delta.
Cairo launches oil and gas licensing round for Upper Egypt

25 March 2008, 15:44 GMT
State-owned Ganoub el-Wadi Petroleum Company (Ganope) has launched an oil and gas licensing round covering acreage in the south of the country.
International firms line up for Abu Qir

20 March 2008, 17:11 GMT
Cairo's hopes of increasing its gas exports have been given a significant boost, with international oil companies lining up to submit bids to develop the Abu Qir gas field.
Morocco to launch two fertiliser plants in 2008

17 March 2008, 13:51 GMT
Morocco is due to bring two new fertiliser plants on stream by the end of 2008, according to state phosphates company Office Cherifien des Phosphates (OCP).
Kharafi buys stake in Petrodar from Al-Thani

17 March 2008, 11:54 GMT
Kuwait’s Kharafi Group has taken a 3 per cent stake in Sudan’s Petrodar Operating Company, following the withdrawal of the UAE’s Al-Thani Corporation from the company.
Cairo plans oil and gas licensing round

14 March 2008, 18:53 GMT
Fifth bid round will cover up to 10 onshore and offshore oil and gas concessions in the south.
Cairo plans two refineries at Ain Sokhna

14 March 2008, 18:32 GMT
Cairo is developing plans for two refineries that could increase the country's refining capacity by almost 50 per cent, say industry sources.
Energy: Six key people

14 March 2008, 15:56 GMT
The key figures in Algeria’s state-run energy sector: Chakib Khelil, Mohamed Meziane, Abdelhafid Feghouli, Sid Ali Betata, Noureddine Cherouati and Boumediene Belkacem.
Petrofac: MEED Assessment

14 March 2008, 15:11 GMT
Petrofac is well positioned to continue its recent success
Q&A: Keith Roberts, Chief Financial Officer, Petrofac

14 March 2008, 15:02 GMT
CFO Roberts talks about the importance of the Middle East market since selling its US business and the key challenges going forward
Petrofac

14 March 2008, 15:00 GMT
The international oil services company is focusing on the Middle East after selling off its US business.
Areva group wins Dubai substation work

13 March 2008, 17:54 GMT
A consortium of France’s Areva and South Korea’s Hyundai Heavy Industries has won a €150m ($234m) contract to build two high-voltage substations in Dubai.
Morocco’s Attijari Wafabank reports strong growth

13 March 2008, 17:32 GMT
Morocco’s Attijari Wafabank increased its profits by 8.2 per cent year-on-year to MD2.5bn ($339m), according to results published on 13 March.
Lafarge enjoys surge in profits in Morocco

12 March 2008, 18:30 GMT
Lafarge Maroc, the Moroccan subsidiary of France’s industrial materials company Lafarge, has reported a 40 per cent increase in net profits for the full-year 2007, to MD1.9bn ($258m).
United Foundries creates metal casting giant

12 March 2008, 17:27 GMT
Egypt’s United Foundries has acquired a majority stake in two local companies to create one of the country’s largest metal casting companies.
Invensys to develop Gulf engineering centre

11 March 2008, 15:38 GMT
Invensys Process System, a UK technology firm, is to establish an engineering expertise centre in the GCC.
Bids for Algeria’s first bank sale may be scrapped

11 March 2008, 13:42 GMT
The long-running process to sell Credit Populaire d’Algerie (CPA), the first bank privatisation in the country, may be cancelled due to fears over the impact of the sub-prime crisis, according to a senior government official.
Petrofac enjoys strong growth despite rising costs

10 March 2008, 17:43 GMT
Petrofac Group, a UK-based oil services company with operations in the UAE and North Africa, has announced strong financial results for 2007, despite rising costs in the global oil and gas contracting market.
Bahwan signs project deal for Algerian fertiliser complex

10 March 2008, 15:53 GMT
State energy company Sonatrach and Oman’s Bahwan Group have signed a project agreement to develop a fertiliser complex at Arzew in the northwest.
Maaden to dominate fertiliser market

29 February 2008, 18:09 GMT
State mining firm expects to supply 20 per cent of $25bn market when Ras al-Zour complex opens.
Rising costs hit Port Sudan contracts

29 February 2008, 17:31 GMT
Contracts for a refinery project near Port Sudan tendered in 2006 may be scrapped in an effort to manage escalating costs, according to a project source.
Financial close nears on Ras al-Zour fertiliser scheme

28 February 2008, 17:10 GMT
Maaden Phosphate Company is set to close the $3.9bn financing for its Ras al-Zour integrated fertiliser complex by May, according to the company’s president.
Koreans to build Al-Jalamid power plant

28 February 2008, 15:56 GMT
The local/South Korean Middle East Engineering & Development Company (Meedco) has been awarded the contract to build a power plant at Al-Jalamid in the north of Saudi Arabia.
Cairo outlines renewable energy plan

27 February 2008, 18:19 GMT
Private companies will be able to sell renewable energy to Egypt’s national grid under proposals discussed at the latest cabinet meeting.
Sonatrach approves capital increase

27 February 2008, 17:38 GMT
State oil company Sonatrach has strengthened its ability to fund its projects with an increase in capital of more than $2bn.
Bahrain agrees offshore exploration deal

26 February 2008, 16:52 GMT
Thailand ’s PTT Exploration & Production has signed an agreement with Manama for an offshore exploration and production concession in the northwest.
Deliveries start on Egyptian deepwater gas field

26 February 2008, 15:54 GMT
The UK ’s BG Group has delivered the first gas from the fourth phase of its deepwater exploration programme in the eastern Mediterranean.
Algiers supports trans-Saharan gas pipeline

25 February 2008, 16:16 GMT
Algerian Energy Minister Chakib Khelil is holding meetings with the Nigerian government this week in an effort to inject fresh momentum into a multibillion dollar scheme to build a gas pipeline across the Sahara.
Algerian exploration programme takes shape

25 February 2008, 15:34 GMT
The UK’s BG Group and its partners have begun drilling the second well in a six-well exploration and appraisal programme in the Allal Dome region of central Algeria.
Algiers to develop $1.5bn fertiliser plant at Guelma

22 February 2008, 17:01 GMT
Project is one of a series aimed at boosting exports tenfold by 2020.
Australian firm in talks over Algerian phosphate project

19 February 2008, 15:08 GMT
Algiers is in negotiations with an international partner over the development of a phosphate fertiliser project in the west of the country
Citadel appoints banks for Cairo refinery financing deal

15 February 2008, 16:49 GMT
Citadel Capital has appointed banks to prepare the terms for the $2.25bn financing of a refinery near Cairo, the largest ever project finance deal in North Africa.
Melitah refinery development stalls as bankers pull out

15 February 2008, 16:32 GMT
A proposed refinery near Melitah in northwest Libya is facing a setback after two potential investors pulled out of the project.
Sonatrach revives Arzew liquefied natural gas project

15 February 2008, 16:23 GMT
State energy company Sonatrach is to take its first major step towards the development of an integrated liquefied natural gas (LNG) facility at Arzew, following the dismissal of its Spanish partners in September 2007.
Small states have chance to shine with alternative oil extraction

15 February 2008, 12:46 GMT
High oil prices have benefited the Gulf economies of Saudi Arabia, Qatar and the UAE most conspicuously. But they are having a proportionally far greater impact on some of the region's smaller oil and gas producers.
Exploration moves offshore

15 February 2008, 12:11 GMT
As the region’s easy-to-access onshore oil and gas reserves dwindle, finding hydrocarbon deposits is becoming increasingly expensive as the search for oil moves further out to sea.
Citadel to develop East Mediterranean fuel oil hub

14 February 2008, 17:35 GMT
Egypt’s Citadel Capital is set to develop a major oil trading and ship refuelling hub at Port Said.
Sonatrach officials face corruption charges

14 February 2008, 16:27 GMT
Officials of state oil company Sonatrach are under investigation by the General Prosecutor in Algiers on suspicion of corrupt deals with a UK-based engineering company, John Crane.
Petronas to start drilling campaign in Mauritania

13 February 2008, 19:03 GMT
Drilling work is set to begin on two oil and gas concessions operated by Malaysia’s Petronas in the next two months, according to Australia’s ROC Oil, a minority shareholder.
Tehran set for record oil revenues

13 February 2008, 18:10 GMT
Tehran’s oil and gas revenues are expected to increase 5 per cent year-on-year to reach a record $63bn for the Iranian calendar year 2007-2008, according to the government.
Rabat turns south in search for oil

12 February 2008, 17:26 GMT
Rabat is set to begin drilling activities in the south of the kingdom in an effort to develop the region’s hydrocarbons potential.
Tecnimont to set up Egyptian subsidiary with Echem

12 February 2008, 15:52 GMT
Tecnimont, the Italian industrial conglomerate, is to establish a subsidiary in Egypt in partnership with a state-owned oil company and a local contractor.
Algerian unemployment rises as youth joblessness persists

11 February 2008, 16:13 GMT
Unemployment has risen for the first time since 2000, according to official figures. Almost three-quarters of those without a job are under the age of 30.
Libya signs $3.8bn deal to create energy city

11 February 2008, 15:35 GMT
Bahrain’s Gulf Finance House has signed a $3.8bn agreement to create the first specialised energy business district in Libya.
Rig prices soar as oil hits new highs

1 February 2008, 14:54 GMT
A boom in oil and gas exploration activity is pushing up the cost of drilling rigs
Al-Ghurair promises high returns from Ras Lanuf upgrade

25 January 2008, 15:24 GMT
The company behind the upgrade of the Ras Lanuf refinery claims it will yield a high rate of return, despite rising construction costs.
Sonatrach to sign up Total and Almet

25 January 2008, 14:46 GMT
State energy firm to form joint ventures to roll out two key projects from its $15bn petrochemicals expansion
Petrovietnam makes new oil and gas find in Algeria

22 January 2008, 17:08 GMT
Petrovietnam Exploration & Production Corporation has made a further discovery in the Touggourt area of Algeria.
Date set for Western Sahara licensing round

22 January 2008, 16:40 GMT
The leading pro-independence party in the disputed Western Sahara region, which lies to the south of Morocco, will launch its second oil and gas licensing round in early February in the US.
Algiers to privatise 100 companies within six months

21 January 2008, 16:52 GMT
Algiers will privatise 100 companies in the first six months of 2008 as part of its programme to attract private investment in more than 1,000 state-owned companies.
Algeria's lush hills a new home for zinc mines?

18 January 2008, 16:45 GMT
Nestled among the rolling hills that straddle the Soummam River in the Berber region of Kabylie, two small teams of men work 12-hour shifts searching for underground deposits of zinc. Around them, the hills are so lush, green and thick with woodland that it is difficult to believe this is Algeria, a country almost entirely covered by desert.In just a few years, the site could be transformed into one of the largest zinc mines in the world.
Government deliberation delays progress on gas terminal

18 January 2008, 13:01 GMT
Jorf Lasfar is understood to be the preferred location for the kingdom’s first terminal to receive liquefied natural gas (LNG), but the wait for government approval is delaying further progress on the project.
Algiers holds back details in 15-block licensing round

18 January 2008, 12:42 GMT
Prequalifiers given no information on deadlines or acreage available
Consortium restores In Amenas field

18 January 2008, 12:36 GMT
An international consortium has restored gas production levels at In Amenas, the country’s largest wet gas field, giving a major boost to Algeria’s faltering plans to boost gas exports.
Algerian food imports soar

17 January 2008, 15:14 GMT
Algeria’s spending on food imports in 2007 increased 50 per cent year-on-year, according to a senior government official.
Moroccan refinery upgrade nears completion

16 January 2008, 18:36 GMT
A major overhaul of the country’s only refinery, at Mohammedia, is due for completion by May 2009, according to a senior project source.
Circle shares hit by poor drilling results in Tunisia

15 January 2008, 17:11 GMT
Shares in London-listed Circle Oil have fallen by almost a third in the space of a week, following the announcement of disappointing results from the company’s latest exploration well in Tunisia.
Primoil signs Tunisian exploration agreement

14 January 2008, 15:50 GMT
Franco-Australian oil company Primoil has signed a contract to carry out oil and gas exploration in the northwest of the country.
Algiers offers first offshore exploration licences

14 January 2008, 15:35 GMT
Algeria has invited companies to prequalify for the country’s long-awaited seventh international oil and gas licensing round.
Co-operation is the way forward

11 January 2008, 17:05 GMT
The fact that Saudi Arabia's two largest companies, Saudi Aramco and Saudi Basic Industries Corporation (Sabic), are in talks to collaborate on a multi-billion-dollar project at Yanbu is fresh evidence, if any were needed, that this is an era of increasing resource nationalism.
Sonatrach pipeline upgrade forces Algiers gas export cut

11 January 2008, 17:00 GMT
Sonatrach to spend $1bn over five years on inspecting and upgrading 6,000 kilometres of pipelines
Collapse of Tel Aviv gas talks revives Idku terminal project

11 January 2008, 16:43 GMT
The breakdown in negotiations between the UK’s BG and Tel Aviv on the sale of gas to Israel from Gaza could breathe fresh life into proposals for a liquefied natural gas (LNG) terminal at Idku in Egypt.
Tripoli plans $5bn upgrade of refineries

11 January 2008, 16:30 GMT
Ras Lanuf modernisation to cost up to $3bn, with a further $2bn for Azzawiya under negotiation
Algiers to improve oil terminal safety

11 January 2008, 15:03 GMT
Algeria is carrying out a risk assessment study of the country’s five main hydrocarbons terminals as part of its plans to improve the safety and security of its oil and gas infrastructure.
Tight gas development plans delayed

11 January 2008, 14:12 GMT
A consortium of France’s Total and Spain’s Cepsa has delayed its plans to submit proposals to Algiers for the development of tight gas prospects in the Timimoun basin in the southwest.
Pakistan ratifies Iranian gas pipeline

10 January 2008, 17:51 GMT
Negotiations on a multi-billion-dollar pipeline project to bring Iranian gas to Pakistan are moving ahead, following the Islamabad cabinet’s agreement to buy gas from the pipeline.
Iraq launches oil licensing round

10 January 2008, 17:21 GMT
Baghdad has launched its first international oil and gas licensing round since the US-led invasion in 2003.
Sanaa prequalifies companies for upstream acreage

9 January 2008, 18:24 GMT
Sanaa has prequalified almost all of the companies that bid for acreage in the country’s latest international licensing round.
Stratic to sell Tunisian exploration permit

8 January 2008, 12:32 GMT
UK-listed Stratic Energy Corporation is seeking approval from Tunis for the $1m sale of an offshore oil and gas exploration permit. The sale will mark the company’s complete exit from the Tunisian market.
Petroceltic develops North Africa operations

8 January 2008, 12:28 GMT
Dublin-based Petroceltic International is to launch drilling programmes in both Algeria and Tunisia this year.
Morocco restores diplomatic relations with Spain

8 January 2008, 12:24 GMT
Morocco has restored full diplomatic relations with Madrid following the resolution of a dispute over the visit of Spain's King Juan Carlos to two Spanish enclaves in North Africa.
Talks resume over status of Western Sahara

8 January 2008, 12:21 GMT
Fresh UN-sponsored talks on the status of the Western Sahara region began on 7 January.
Dana Gas prepares new investments

7 January 2008, 11:40 GMT
Sharjah-based Dana Gas is to start major projects in the UAE and Kurdistan in the coming year.
Gulfsands steps closer to Khurbet East development

7 January 2008, 11:32 GMT
A report on the commercial potential of Syria’s Khurbet East field will be given to Damascus in mid-January, according to the field’s operator, Houston-based Gulfsands Petroleum.
Sector outlook 2008: Industry

4 January 2008, 17:41 GMT
Huge developments have defined the sector's impressive growth, with more to come this year.High-profile, large-scale industrial projects, particularly in the aluminium and fertiliser sectors, are key to the energy-rich Gulf states' economic diversification strategies. All the states are continuing with ambitious major industrial schemes. But with so many large-scale projects under way, signs of strain are beginning to show.
Sector outlook 2008: Petrochemicals

4 January 2008, 17:26 GMT
With costs expected to rise further, the slowdown in project activity looks set to continue.Rising engineering, procurement and construction (EPC) costs, combined with a lack of cheap gas feedstock, has led to the number of new projects announced tailing off sharply since the regional industry's 2006 peak.
South rejoins Sudan government coalition

30 December 2007, 10:51 GMT
Sudan’s governmental crisis has ended with the reappointment of southern rebels to the national government.
Asec to hike Algeria’s cement production

30 December 2007, 10:43 GMT
Egypt’s Asec Cement Holding (ACH) is set to almost triple the production capacity of Algeria’s state-owned Zahana Cement Company after signing a deal to take control of the company.
India to refine more Sudanese crude

28 December 2007, 14:30 GMT
India’s Oil and Natural Gas Corporation (ONGC) is to refine all of its Sudanese oil during February, rather than sell it as crude.
Tamoil wins oil exploration deal

28 December 2007, 14:27 GMT
Libya’s Tamoil Africa has won a licence to explore for oil in Chad, according to a company statement.
Egyptians to triple Algerian cement production

27 December 2007, 16:55 GMT
Egypt’s Asec Cement Holding (ACH) is set to almost triple the production capacity of Algeria’s state-owned Zahana Cement Company after signing a deal to take control of the company.
South rejoins Sudan coalition goverment

27 December 2007, 16:40 GMT
Sudan’s governmental crisis has ended with the reappointment of southern rebels to the national government.
Red tape holds back mining expansion

21 December 2007, 11:28 GMT
The successful development of Algeria's mining resources is being jeopardised by bureaucracy, according to leading industry figures working in the country.
Manmade river to flow for 200 years

21 December 2007, 11:17 GMT
Libya’s scheme to bring drinking water from the south of the country to the north will run for two centuries, four times longer than previously expected, according to the latest studies.
Unwieldly Algeria mining model deters bidders

21 December 2007, 10:43 GMT
Prospects in Algeria’s latest mining bid round are proving too small to attract major companies, but costs are too high for smaller firms.
Algiers to subsidise wheat

19 December 2007, 16:46 GMT
The government will subsidise wheat prices from January 2008, Communications Minister Abderrachid Boukerzaza has announced.
Algerian bank privatisation hit by credit crunch

19 December 2007, 16:08 GMT
The first public sale of a stake in an Algerian bank is unlikely to resume until the credit crunch hitting global markets is over, according to Algiers.
Gelsenwasser to improve water services in Algeria

18 December 2007, 15:00 GMT
Germany’s Gelsenwasser has signed a €23m ($33.2m) contract to provide drinking water services in eastern Algeria.
African Development Bank approves loan for solar power plant

18 December 2007, 14:50 GMT
The African Development Bank has approved a $217.7m loan to finance the construction of a solar-thermal power plant at Ain Beni Mathar.
Opec may increase production in February - Khelil

17 December 2007, 16:20 GMT
The Organisation of Petroleum Exporting Countries (Opec) may increase production from February next year, according to the organisation’s president-designate.
Dana makes discovery in Egypt

17 December 2007, 14:46 GMT
Dana Gas, the UAE company, has made a discovery on its West Manzala concession in Egypt.
Tripoli struggles to attract interest in first gas licensing

14 December 2007, 14:42 GMT
Few international oil companies chose to bid in Tripoli’s first gas round on 9 December, with those that decided not to saying the terms were not commensurate with the prospects on offer. Only a third of the 35 companies shortlisted submitted a bid. Half of the 12 areas on offer received no interest, and a further two attracted just one bidder. No bids were received for any of the five offshore areas.
Sirte Basin wells to cost $130m each

14 December 2007, 14:35 GMT
BP has revealed that it will cost at least $130m to drill each well in the offshore Sirte Basin as it prepares to begin work on its $1.3bn exploration drive in Libya.
NOC awards two more gas exploration licences

13 December 2007, 17:21 GMT
State-owned National Oil Corporation (NOC) has awarded two more contracts in the country’s first international gas round, according to a senior industry source in Tripoli.
Sirte to retender Libya's first LNG plant

11 December 2007, 18:15 GMT
Libya’s state-owned Sirte Oil Company (SOC) is about to retender the construction contract for the country’s only liquefied natural gas (LNG) plant.
Chinese drilling company opens Tripoli office

11 December 2007, 17:50 GMT
China’s Shandong Kerui Petroleum Equipment Company (SKPEC) will open an office in Tripoli by the end of December, according to an executive from the company.
Sonatrach unveils $15bn Algerian steel project

7 December 2007, 17:59 GMT
Algiers is seeking an international partner to develop what could become the biggest iron ore mine in the world, as part of a $15bn steel project.
New head for Algeria's Western Mediterranean Zinc joint venture

5 December 2007, 16:49 GMT
The Algerian/Australian joint venture company Western Mediterranean Zinc (WMZ) has appointed a new director general to develop its zinc project near Bejaia in the northeast.
Algiers plans southwest pipeline

3 December 2007, 16:52 GMT
Algiers is considering building a gas pipeline to connect the southwest of the country to its existing trunk pipeline network, according to Energy Minister Chakib Khelil.
Algiers launches second mining round

3 December 2007, 14:46 GMT
Algiers has launched its second international licensing round for mining acreage.
No need for Opec production increase, says Algiers

3 December 2007, 14:38 GMT
The current level of oil stocks does not justify an increase in Opec production, according to Algeria’s Energy Minister Chakib Khelil.
Food and energy subsidies rise to $11bn

30 November 2007, 16:10 GMT
The government's bill for food and energy subsidies is likely to rise to£E60bn ($10.9bn) in 2007/08, up from£E54bn in the previous year, despite plans to cut the cost of subsidies.
Tripoli applies pressure to renegotiate licensing deals

30 November 2007, 15:59 GMT
International oil companies in Libya are coming under pressure to renegotiate the terms of their exploration licensing agreements with state-owned National Oil Corporation (NOC), say industry sources.
Egyptian steel facilities - tenders due

28 November 2007, 0:00 GMT
Tenders will be issued to prequalified companies in early December for four licences to build new steel facilities in Egypt.
Bids due for cement licences

27 November 2007, 0:00 GMT
Bids are due by 6 December for the licences to build two new cement plants.
Cairo to boost oil production

27 November 2007, 0:00 GMT
Cairo will increase oil production from two major fields by a total of 100,000 barrels a day (b/d) by mid-2008, according to Oil Minister Sameh Fahmy.
Fertilisers: Growth industry

26 November 2007, 11:03 GMT
Without nitrogen fertiliser, the world could only sustain 60 per cent of its current population, according to Contributing to Sustainable Development, a recent report by the European Fertiliser Manufacturers' Association. But when it comes to production, it is the Middle East, not Europe, whose exports are helping to sustain the global population growth.
Libya: Petrochemicals industry in its infancy

26 November 2007, 10:40 GMT
After years of neglect, Tripoli is finally investing in its petrochemicals sector. But delivery of the necessary infrastructure is still a long way off.
Marsa al-Brega construction work set for new year

26 November 2007, 0:00 GMT
A joint venture of the UK/Dutch Shell Group and state-owned Sirte Oil Company (SOC) will issue tenders in the new year to rejuvenate the country’s only liquefied natural gas (LNG) plant.
Sonatrach signs gas agreement with Sardinia

26 November 2007, 0:00 GMT
State energy company Sonatrach has signed a headline natural gas agreement with Sardinia, paving the way for the delivery of Algerian gas to the island via the planned Galsi pipeline.
Denton Wilde Sapte extends regional network

24 November 2007, 0:00 GMT
International law firm Denton Wilde Sapte is following its agreement to join up with a local Algerian law firm in early November with a similar deal with a second firm in the region.
Middle East can feed the world

24 November 2007, 0:00 GMT
While the rising cost of global energy has been one of the most high-profile economic issues of the past four years, the effect of costly hydrocarbons on the ability of the world to feed itself has been relatively neglected.
Shell still in race for $5bn gas terminal

24 November 2007, 0:00 GMT
The UK/Dutch Shell Group could yet win the race to develop Libya's first liquefied natural gas (LNG) terminal since 1970, according to a senior executive at state-owned National Oil Corporation (NOC).
Tripoli launches $5bn plastics facilities upgrade

24 November 2007, 0:00 GMT
Tripoli is to launch a $5bn programme to build its first petrochemicals facilities for decades by the end of 2008.
Eni in talks over transfer of North Africa assets

23 November 2007, 0:00 GMT
Russia’s Gazprom and Italy’s Eni are to hold talks over the transfer of Eni assets in North Africa to Gazprom.
ExxonMobil signs exploration agreement

22 November 2007, 0:00 GMT
The US’ ExxonMobil has signed a headline agreement for a five-year oil and gas exploration programme on offshore acreage in the Sirte basin in the north-east of Libya.
Tripoli delays development round

22 November 2007, 0:00 GMT
Tripoli’s planned licensing round to develop existing oil discoveries is unlikely to take place before the second half of 2008, a senior representative of state-owned National Oil Corporation (NOC) has told MEED.
First Calgary completes field development financing

18 November 2007, 0:00 GMT
Canada’s First Calgary Petroleums is taking the final step towards raising finance for the development of one of the country’s largest upstream gas prospects, with an agreement for a convertible bond worth $267m.
Gulfsands drills third well on block 26

18 November 2007, 0:00 GMT
Houston-based Gulfsands Petroleum is drilling its third well on block 26 in the far northeast of Syria.
Ghadir fertiliser complex launches

17 November 2007, 0:00 GMT
The first phase of a programme to increase Iran’s urea production by almost 75 per cent by 2008 has been completed, with the opening of the Ghadir Petrochemical Complex.
Talaat Mustafa uses share listing to raise $800m

17 November 2007, 0:00 GMT
Local property company Talaat Mustafa Group will raise up to $800m through the listing of its shares on the stock market on 28 November.
Industrial giant reports 14 per cent rise in turnover

16 November 2007, 0:00 GMT
Morocco’s largest industrial and financial conglomerate, ONA Group, has reported a 14 per cent rise in turnover for the first nine month of the year, following the launch of a telecoms arm and new supermarket openings.
Algiers drops oil production target

15 November 2007, 0:00 GMT
Energy Minister Chakib Khelil has admitted that Algeria is unlikely to meet its target of increasing oil production to 2 million barrels a day (b/d) by 2010, from its current 1.5 million b/d.
Bids due for Ghannouch

15 November 2007, 0:00 GMT
Commercial bids are due to be submitted by the end of 2007 for the planned 400-MW combined-cycle power plant at Ghannouch near Gabes on the east coast.
West struggles with accord

15 November 2007, 0:00 GMT
International efforts to resolve the conflict in Darfur have suffered another setback after rebel groups boycotted the latest round of peace talks. Richard Nield reports
Special Report: North Africa - A position of strength in gas supply

12 October 2007, 17:38 GMT
In terms of location and resources, North Africa is well placed to become the leading gas supplier to the European market, if it can overcome the problems caused by government inflexibility and a lack of progress on key projects.
Gassi Touil: Going solo a viable option for Algiers

12 October 2007, 13:30 GMT
With the Gassi Touil project long mired in difficulties, Algiers has expelled its Spanish partners and decided to go it alone.
Algerian gas projects: Delays hit growth

12 October 2007, 13:30 GMT
Plans to increase capacity are behind schedule.
Algiers set to miss gas export targets

12 October 2007, 13:30 GMT
With two key gas pipeline projects still to be completed, planned increases in exports are unlikely to be achieved.
Morocco: Impetus to diversify into LNG

12 October 2007, 12:54 GMT
A new liquefied natural gas receiving terminal is central to Rabat's plans to reduce its dependence on oil and coal imports.
National Oil Survey: The age of the nationals

25 May 2007, 15:00 GMT
National oil companies now control 80 per cent of the world's oil reserves, but are they equipped to cope with the global supply challenge? MEED conducts an exclusive survey to find out.
Chinese fill the construction gap in Algeria

17 May 2007, 12:31 GMT
China's state-owned companies are dominating a market overlooked by other contractors.
System holds Algiers back

17 May 2007, 12:30 GMT
High oil prices and rapid economic growth in the emerging economies of China and India are raising the temperature of the global construction sector to critical levels. Increasing demand and limited resources mean companies are selective about projects and the market has become heavily skewed in favour of contractors.
Morocco: Sustainable approach to construction

23 October 2006, 13:00 GMT
Construction demand is rising rapidly, but good management has averted the supply squeezes seen in the Gulf.
Tangmed: Morocco's largest deepwater cargo port

10 February 2006, 15:25 GMT
Morocco is developing one of the largest deepwater cargo ports in the Mediterranean. But its undoubted commercial value is not the only benefit it will bring.
Morocco: Tourists welcome

13 May 2005, 18:43 GMT
Morocco is halfway through its nine-year programme to increase tourist numbers to 10 million by the end of the decade. Developers are pulling out all the stops to provide the necessary infrastructure.

MEEDRichard Nield

MEED
Richard Nield