Ministry of Energy (Saudi Arabia)

The Ministry of Energy is one of the governmental bodies of Saudi Arabia and part of the cabinet. The ministry has the function of developing and implementing policies concerning petroleum and related products.

Ministry of Energy
Ministrial Department overview
Formed1 December 1960 (1960-12-01)
Preceding agencies
  • Directorate General of Petroleum and Mineral Affairs
  • Ministry of Petroleum and Mineral Resources
JurisdictionSaudi Arabia
HeadquartersRiyadh
Minister responsible
WebsiteOfficial website

In August 2019, King Salman issued a royal decree and divided the ministry into two- Ministry of Industry and Mineral Resources, and Ministry of Energy. While Khalid al-Falih still remained the energy minister, business executive Bandar Al-Khorayef was named as the minister of natural resources.[1][2] However, on 8 September 2019, a royal decree was issued to appoint Abdulaziz bin Salman Al Saud as the energy minister.[3]

History

The ministry was established in December 1960.[4][5] Prior to the formation of the ministry policies regarding oil production and planning were overseen by the directorate general of petroleum and mineral affairs which was attached to the ministry of finance.[6] Then the directorate was converted into the ministry.[6] The ministry was named the Ministry of Petroleum and Mineral Resources until May 2016 when it was renamed as the Ministry of Energy, Industry and Mineral Resources.[7][8] In August 2019, the Ministry was separated into the Ministry of Energy and the Ministry of Industry and Mineral Resources.[2]

List of ministers

Since 1960 the ministry was headed by the following five ministers:

  1. Abdullah Tariki (December 1960 – 9 March 1962)[4]
  2. Ahmed Zaki Yamani (9 March 1962 – 5 October 1986)[6][9]
  3. Hisham Nazer (24 December 1986 – 2 August 1995)[10]
  4. Ali Naimi (2 August 1995 – 7 May 2016)[7]
  5. Khalid A. Al-Falih (7 May 2016 – 8 September 2019)[7]
  6. Abdulaziz bin Salman Al Saud (8 September 2019 – present)[11]

Organization and activities

The ministry is primarily responsible for the policies concerning oil and gas in the country which is the world's largest holder of crude oil reserves.[12] One of the agencies with which the ministry works is Petromin, the general petroleum and mineral organization.[5] Through Saudi Arabian Basic Industries Company (SABIC), established in 1976, the ministry oversaw the operation of petrochemicals and other heavy industry projects.[6]

In 2019, the Minister inaugurated the launching ceremony of the Saudi scientific vessel, called “Najil” in Jubail port, Eastern Province. The main aim of the vessel is to conduct marine-related researches in the Persian Gulf and the Red Sea.

In 2019, and on the sidelines of the Saudi crown prince’s visit to India, the Minister of Energy, Industry and Mineral Resources signed a MOU to partner with the International Solar Alliance (ISA) and projects in fertilizers, pharmaceuticals and medical supplies.[13]

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References
  1. "King Salman's Royal Decree Gives a Minor Jolt to Khalid al-Falih". True News Source. Retrieved 31 August 2019.
  2. "King Salman issues royal decrees, including creation of industry and resources ministry". Arab News. 30 August 2019. Retrieved 2 September 2019.
  3. Bartrawy, Aya (9 September 2019). "Saudi Arabia's King Has Replaced the Country's Energy Minister With One of His Own Sons". Time. Retrieved 9 September 2019.
  4. Yitzhak Oron, Ed. Middle East Record Volume 2, 1961. The Moshe Dayan Center. p. 419. GGKEY:4Q1FXYK79X8. Retrieved 16 September 2013.
  5. "Ministry of Petroleum and Mineral Resources". SAMIRAD. Retrieved 16 September 2013.
  6. Hertog, Steffen (2008). "Petromin: the slow death of statist oil development in Saudi Arabia" (PDF). Business history. 50 (5): 645–667. doi:10.1080/00076790802246087. Retrieved 16 September 2013.
  7. "Saudi Arabia names Khalid al-Falih energy minister to replace Naimi". Reuters. 7 May 2016. Retrieved 8 May 2016.
  8. "Arab Ministries: The Complete English-Arabic List - Industry Arabic". Industry Arabic. 13 April 2018. Retrieved 7 May 2018.
  9. "Defining moments: Sheikh Yamani". BBC. 9 July 2003. Retrieved 16 September 2013.
  10. "Key ministers fired as king cleans house". Eugene Register Guard. Riyadh. AP. 3 August 1995. Retrieved 16 September 2013.
  11. "King Salman appoints son as Saudi energy minister". ft. 8 September 2019. Retrieved 8 September 2019.
  12. "Saudi Arabia Creates New Ministry, Reducing Role of Energy Minister". nytimes. 31 August 2019.
  13. "KSA signs MoU on joining Solar Alliance". Saudigazette. 21 February 2019. Retrieved 28 February 2019.
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