Gulf Correspondent
@AlMonitor
. Interested in politics, energy & the switch to a net-zero future. Tweets in EN/TA (தமிழ்). All views own. Oh and it’s /nyā-nuh/
"Repeated attacks by Yemen's Houthis militia along the Bab al-Mandeb route have left global shipping companies shunning the critical chokepoint amid rising costs and increasing geopolitical risk in one of the world's biggest chokepoints for seaborne trade."
I take a look at
A routine reminder that this 'moderate' 'Taliban 2.0' executed & mutilated a journalist only last month. Are we going to mollycoddle them because they're making statements finally "recognising" women's rights. Stop legitimising war criminals!
Very brave of our young climate activist
@LicypriyaK
to share her voice on stage at the
#COP28
in the UAE. Licypriya who is 12 is a well known Indian climate activist who at the age of 10 forced authorities to clear out plastic from around the Taj Mahal. Impressed with children’s
@vikasnavaratna
Bioderma Photoderm Max 50+ also works perfectly well on brown skin. It’s super absorbent, no white cast. It’s a little greasy but I don’t mind. Most importantly, it’s never broken me out. My tone has changed a lot over the last few months but it’s been consistent with darker skin
Saudi Arabia has cut its crude production to lows not seen since the depths of the coronavirus pandemic to defend oil prices, a gambit that has chipped away at its market share in the key battlegrounds of Asia as volumes rise from OPEC+ counterparts Russia and Iran, among others.
Happy to finally say that I’ve joined
@PlattsOil
as Saudi Arabia Correspondent after 4 years covering energy with
@TheNationalNews
. Looking forward to reporting on oil policy and efforts towards transition in the kingdom and in Kuwait.
Excited to be joining
@AlMonitor
where I’ll be covering Gulf politics and international relations, in addition to energy and business. Thrilled to be working with my former colleagues
@Joyce_Karam
&
@jackvdutton
and honoured to be sharing bylines with some of the best in
💥 Thrilled to welcome Jennifer Gnana
@jcgnana
to team Al-Monitor as our Gulf correspondent. From Saudi Arabia to Iran, Jennifer covered the region incisively and with keen eye on its transformation. Look out for her byline
@AlMonitor
! 🎉
From yesterday: the Houthis' seizure of a cargo ship off the coast of Yemen moved the needle on oil prices and shipping costs. I take a look with
@MaxL_shipping
at the risks involved in transiting the Arabian Peninsula's key western chokepoints amid escalating tensions.
With
The change of guard in Kuwait with the passing of emir Sheikh Nawaf al-Sabah and the appointment of Crown Prince Sheikh Mishal al-Sabah as his successor is set to ensure continuity in the OPEC crude producer, grappling with a stagnant energy sector in a fast-transitioning world.
A day trip to Khurais oil field - Saudi Arabia’s second-largest field, which has the capacity to produce 1.5 million b/d of arab light crude. The massive field is monitored by drones both for operations/maintenance and also for security, particularly in light of the 2019 attack,
OPEC’s sub-Saharan members have seen their influence in the bloc shrink in recent years as crude production has slipped well below their quotas, and now find themselves crowded out by the Saudi-Russia axis of power. Great work by
@csmitchell6
#OOTT
UAE diplomatic advisor
@AnwarGargash
@wef
in Riyadh on what the country meant through joining BRICS: We look at it mostly by from the perspective of having more friends, more bridges, more economic opportunities, rather than basically a rejection of something and adoption of
Saudi Aramco plans to raise its sustainable production capacity to 12.3 million b/d by 2025 as the world's largest oil-exporting company accelerates plans to bring additional output to market to meet the needs of global consumers
#OOTT
@Chicks_Balances
Indian Americans like Mindy who subscribe to a lazy notion of 'South Asianism' where it's all aesthetics, the occasional Ayurveda, turmeric plug, while not even acknowledging the tremendous burden and pain of coming from a country where more than 25% are poor, are such a disgrace
The new chief minister of Tamil Nadu, a state which means Tamil Country, openly embraces his Dravidian identity. A new, resurgent face of Dravidian nationalism and politics. வாழ்த்துக்கள்!
Twitter profile of
#MKStalin
undergoes change minutes after he is sworn-in
Chief Minister of Tamil Nadu
@nd
Belongs to the Dravidian stock added to profile
The term was first used by
#DMK
founder C N Annadurai during his maiden speech in Parliament in 1962
@DeccanHerald
Saudi Arabia is stockpiling fuel oil for its peak summer air conditioning season even as it is forecast to burn 5% less crude for electricity in 2024, according to S&P Global Commodity Insights, as part of an ongoing diversification of its power mix.
#OOTT
Saudi Arabia is considering producing a “funky” “pink” variant of hydrogen sourced from nuclear-powered electrolysis. It has no current nuclear capacity. The UAE has ambitions to produce 1 mil mt/year of hydrogen from the Barakah Nuclear Power Plant
#OOTT
"They were reminding us that as late as 1942, when the world was signing up to the Atlantic Charter and its enshrining of “self-determination” as a global principle, Churchill insisted that it did not apply to the darker nations of Asia and Africa."
Making history. "The protesters who brought Colston down and who now have the long-controversial Cecil Rhodes statue at Oxford’s Oriel College in their sights are destroyers—but of mythology rather than history." Wrote this for Huffpost
Kuwait has around 30,000 b/d of spare capacity left and is inching very close to its maximum as Gulf oil producers face pressure to bring on more supply to ease high oil prices. My deep dive into Kuwaiti energy and political landscape
#OOTT
Saudi Aramco is considering major investments in two US LNG projects (Port Arthur & Rio Grande) in Texas as part of a broader push by the state-owned oil giant to build a global LNG business, according to sources familiar with the matter.
#OOTT
Saudi energy minister Prince Abdulaziz
@wef
- “Being green is not an ideology. There is a script for it and upon which people will be tested - are you are a believer or not a believer? What is going on now reminds me of the inquisition. If you’re not a believer you’ll be burnt in
@peeleraja
Not to mention the stark difference in how South Indian millionaires/billionaires generally use their wealth - by the near absence of display. The Murthys are still considered a bit flashy by South Indian principles/aesthetics. Humble bragging is huge culture no-no
China’s oil demand in 2023 is expected to rise 550,000 b/d y-o-y while some 820,000 b/d of Russian supplies will be lost to western sanctions & the G7’s price cap, Saudi-backed
@KAPSARC
said in its Q1 report
#OOTT
.
@telegram
CEO’s arrest has put the UAE’s investment-based citizenship laws back in the spotlight. My deep dive on the UAE’s moves to protect high-profile investors & how it looks to leverage strategic interests through awarding citizenship rights
Saudi Aramco’s production capacity targets:
🛢12.3 million b/d by 2025
🛢12.7 million b/d by 2026
🛢13 million b/ by 2027
Aramco CEO: Anytime we’ll be asked to go to our MSC which is currently 12 million b/d, we'll be able to bring it on stream quickly and sustain it
#OOTT
This is becoming something of a trend. I reach the airport only to realise I’ve forgotten all my cards & only have a few dirhams & rupees. Taxi driver waves me off saying, “It happens. Pay me whenever. Don’t miss your flight.” How are people this kind?!
#DubaiTaxiDiaries
#Dubai
இனிய தமிழ் புத்தாண்டு வாழ்த்துக்கள்! Happy Tamil New Year filled with love, light & health to all who celebrate around the world. Also greetings for the Sinhala new year and hopes for a brighter, fairer future for all in Sri Lanka. 🙏🏽
Saudi Aramco plans to spend at the lower end of its capex allocation of $40-50 billion for 2022, as it faces pressures to raise its output capacity and bring additional supply to global oil markets
#OOTT
Saudi policy at the start of the year mirrors its strategy early 2020 at the start of the pandemic, when it also cut selling prices by $2/b from Feb to March. Eventually, a price war would break out between Riyadh and Moscow, when the two OPEC+ co-leaders could not agree over
Revisiting this excellent piece by
@MarioArul
“That Gota’s responsibility for mass atrocities is not playing a part in the protest movement is indicative of the deep-rooted problem in Sri Lanka, one that goes beyond the Rajapaksas.”
இனிய பொங்கல் நல்வாழ்த்துக்கள்! Happy pongal to those who celebrate! I hope this harvest festival is the start of a fruitful, joyous and more prosperous year for everyone! 🌴 🌾 ☀️
Our story from today: Saudi Arabia's decision to cancel a 1 million b/d production capacity increase planned by 2027 was a result of ample spare capacity and a transitioning energy mix in which renewables and gas would replace oil burn - energy minister Prince Abdulaziz bin
Saudi Arabia’s import of oil products surged 34.6% to 556,000 b/d in April, as the world’s largest oil exporter bought higher volumes from abroad to meet its domestic requirements, amid tightened production
#OOTT
From S&P Global Commodity Insights:
SAUDI DATA: Imports of fuel oil and diesel surge in April
Continue reading by subscribing to S&P Global Platts Dimensions Pro. Email ci.support
@spglobal
.com.
Urals is somewhat close in specification to Arab Light, with 1.7% sulfur and 31.7 API gravity, according to the Platts Periodic Table of Crude. Under severe western sanctions, Russia has been selling Urals at massive discounts to China and India, undercutting Saudi flows
#OOTT
@davidfrawleyved
Ridiculous, imperialist statement to make.
#Tamil
- the oldest classical language of antiquity that is still spoken - comes from a civilisation and linguistic heritage that goes back to over 3,000 years. What a spurious comment to make on a language you know little of.
In non-oil related news, I’m so grateful that India’s Supreme Court finally banned this humiliating test women had to endure when reporting rape. Big win for Indian women & big step in creating a safer, dignified & more equitable future for us 🙏🏽 🔥
BREAKING: "Any person who performs the two finger test will be guilty of misconduct, two finger test is patriarchal, suggests that women who are habitual to sexual intercourse cannot be raped," says Supreme Court
Saudi energy min Prince Abdulaziz: We’ve postponed this investment (1 million bpd capacity increase) simply because we’re transitioning and transitioning means that our oil company became a hydrocarbons company and now an energy company.
#IPTC
#OOTT
Some numbers:
* Saudi Aramco hit pause late Jan on plans to add 1 million b/d by 2027
* Saudi Arabia holds nearly 3 million b/d of spare capacity, giving it leverage in the oil market.
* Aramco plans to expand gas production by 50% by 2030
* Oil burning accounted for 52% of
@ficoolone
So very sorry to hear of your loss. I lost my mother two years ago and nothing, nothing ever fills the void. The grief comes and goes but over time you will get over this darkness. If you're staying away from people to just be with your feelings and grief, that's ok. You'll be ok
The latest wave of supply curbs are so sizeable that its more lucrative medium and lighter grades – already facing intense competition from discounted Russian crude – will be significantly impacted
#OOTT
Saudi Aramco has received no mandate from the government to increase its capacity beyond the planned 13 million b/d by 2027, despite seeing signs of a tightening market, the company's CEO said in an investor call
#OOTT
“The girls want this - to access education while wearing the hijab” - Hiba’s mother. Proud of these girls for standing up for their rights 👏🏽 Horrifying to see the Indian state forcing women to remove their hijab to allow access to education. Great work by
@khanthefatima
Death threats, lost friendships, a bleak future. Months after Karnataka’s hijab ban, the hijabi students and teachers continue to suffer.
I worked on this documentary highlighting their plight, dreams, aspirations, anxieties and more. Please watch.
Nothing hurts Tamil people, tears at our soul and wounds us more collectively more than violence against our language, literature and heritage. This uncivilised attack on the Jaffna library was one of the first steps leading up to the disaster that unfolded in Sri Lanka....
Over 95,000 unique and irreplaceable Tamil palm leaves (ola), manuscripts, parchments, books, magazines and newspapers, housed within an impressive building inspired by ancient Dravidian architecture, were destroyed during the burning.
Prince Abdulaziz mentioned Saudi plans to transition an oil-dependent economy as underpinning decision to cancel 1 million b/d capacity expansion
* Saudi net-zero target is for 2060
* By 2050, Saudi Arabia aims to have 41% solar, 9% wind and 2% nuclear power generation as part of
Just saw a woman throw a sandwich back at a waiter behind a counter because it “didn’t have enough butter” in it. Really crass to treat people who make you food in such a condescending way. Absolutely shocking sense of entitlement.
#Dubai
True! Tamil people do not have family names and my last name Gnana is also not a family name! Our naming system is very, very complex 😅 (context - in Tamil Nadu, we do not use caste names following the establishment of dravidian national parties)
Saudi energy minister Prince Abdulaziz: We’re saving 950,000 bpd to a million bpd simply because we’re transitioning to a renewables and gas based economy. We have so much gas from Jafurah (unconventional development).
#OOTT
While we’re at let’s please stop using the term “strongman” to describe Rajapakshe. Whatever does that mean? How can anyone who sanctioned the deaths of tens of thousands of civilians simply be called a “strongman”. Is global conscience simply dead?
Coverage about current crisis in Sri Lanka which ignores reference to Rajapaksa as an accused war criminal but rather refers to him as "controversial" reiterates need for a real accountability process to set the historical record straight once and for all. Also, media, do better.
@beastoftraal
Love this! Thanks for sharing. Surprised I got a few of them. Also miss the BBC Mastermind series and it’s wonderful host. Huge part of my childhood
Arshneel’s worldview really moved me because it really is the best Indian religion & culture can offer when untainted by fascism etc. Would’ve been interesting to know more about his life in Cleveland as a visible minority but this maybe too much for
#IndianMatchmaking
Sri Lanka's post-genocidal policy - torture, rape & humiliation of Tamil men. How this country continues to enjoy international impunity as some kind of "zen paradise" beats me. Thank you
@francesharris0n
for your work highlighting the plight of Tamil people on the island.
Alive from the abyss: continuing abductions and torture in Sri Lanka -
@francesharris0n
A new generation of young Tamil men are being picked up and tortured by the security forces in the north and east.
India's planned refining and chemicals complex on its west coast will be split into three refining units, each with 20 million mt of capacity, according to the chairman of
@IndianOilcl
#OOTT
#MPGC23
⛽️ Kuwait’s export of clean products to Europe hit an all time high in June with the ramping up of the 615,000 b/d Zour refinery.
⛽️ Clean product exports soared 175% to 385,000 b/d in June
🇰🇼 sold its first shipment of 95 octane gasoline last week
#OOTT
“5 renewable “super majors” – Enel of Italy, Iberdrola of Spain, Orsted of Denmark, Engie of France and NextEra from the US – have a total market cap of $432bn. That’s more than half that of the 5 big oil companies – ExxonMobil, Chevron, Shell, Total & BP and the gap is closing.”
@sadelokeshi
Indian weddings are a total cringe affair and the makeup is the absolute worst. The whole thing is so contrived from tacky decorations to adding extra embellishments to saris to make them more expensive 🙄The whole circus is one violent display of wealth in what is a poor country
Hydrocarbons based energy systems today constitute 90% of the global economy. S&P Global Commodity Insights estimates that by 2050, 60-65% of the energy base will still come from hydrocarbons
@SPGCI
President
@SaugataSaha
says in his opening remarks while hosting a panel on
Saudi Arabia's import of diesel from Russia surged a record high so far in May as the world's largest oil exporter deepened its production cuts as part of its pact with OPEC+ while offsetting lost volumes through external shipments
#OOTT
Saudi Arabia’s energy min Prince Abdulaziz
@wef
in Riyadh speaks out against trade barriers: “People are giving it a softer name - fragmentation. I call it silos. People forget climate change issue and sustainability is a global issue and cannot be approached in a small
Saudi energy min: Energy security in the 70s and 80s was most dependent on oil. The future energy security will be on renewables and materials and the mining industry.
#OOTT
Our in-depth look at the evolving hydrogen industry in the Middle East and its role in decarbonising industry and economising the development of the clean fuel over the coming decades. My work with the brilliant
@JumanJarallah
and team!
#OOTT
Saudi energy min: Doesn’t mean we’re abandoning things. Doesn’t mean we’re not using the rigs. It’s not a decision made in haste. We’ve made the biggest review in capacity in 2021 after 8 months of elaborate review.
#OOTT
Air India inflight announcement just now: Passengers please note pornography and videography is not allowed. Oh Air India, so much sanskari. Cannot handle! Jai Hind!
Saudi energy minister Prince Abdulaziz takes stage as the kingdom hosts the
@UNFCCC
’s Mena Climate Week in Riyadh. The event will set the agenda for the upcoming COP28 in Dubai towards the end of the year.
#OOTT
If the Chinese government were to open international travel and further ease mobility restrictions, China’s demand for aviation fuels could see an additional boost of 100,000-200,000 b/d |
@KAPSARC
#OOTT
A perfect example of how discriminatory CAB is - apparently fleeing genocide & living in refugee camps for 30 years in India does not make you eligible for citizenship. You just have to be ideologically compatible & “non-problematic” to the Indian state, which excludes SL Tamils.
It’s not just Muslim refugees who will be affected by the
#CitizenshipAmendmentAct
. Eelam Tamils are also not eligible for Indian citizenship - despite decades of having lived in India
My Dubai neighbourhood is putting on a stunning display for Christmas this year - reindeer and all! Timely reminder for me to make my home more Christmassy asap and not wait until the last day of advent per tradition 🎄🎋