Aid agencies sound the alarm as Israel's Gaza blockade enters a second month    Asian markets plunge as Trump's global tariff turmoil deepens    Trump's crackdown on university protests is casting a long shadow    Le Pen vows to fight conviction but large-scale protests fail to materialize    Al-Jasser: work is underway to restructure and develop aviation infrastructure    KAU to host Digital Communication Conference in Jeddah from April 29 to May 1    TGA: Riyadh tops with 45% of 290 million orders delivered in 2024    Diriyah to host third IMFC Deputies meeting under Saudi chairmanship    15,135 decisions taken to penalize Saudis and expats for violations    Saudi-European Parliamentary Friendship Committee discusses cooperation during Strasbourg visit    Saudi stock market loses half a trillion riyals, with Aramco's losses amounting to SR340 billion Tariff turmoil rattles Gulf markets    Benzema rescues Al Ittihad with stoppage-time equalizer in thrilling Jeddah Derby    Al Qadsiah and Al Ettifaq share spoils in tense Eastern Derby stalemate    Moussa Diaby praises Al Ittihad's resilience after Jeddah Derby draw "When you can't win, you take a point"    Saudi assistant referee Iman Al Madani joins AFC elite list for 2025    Riyadh Art Week launches with over 50 galleries showcasing global artistic dialogue    Turki Al-Sheikh announces five new Saudi film projects to be produced in Riyadh    Saudi Ministry of Education to showcase innovations at 2025 Geneva International Exhibition    Ed Sheeran weaves Persian music into new song, Azizam    Veteran Bollywood actor Manoj Kumar dies at 87    Screen time in bed linked to insomnia, study finds    Bollywood actress vindicated over boyfriend's death after media hounding    Grand Mufti rules against posting prayers and preaching in mosques on social media    King Salman prays for peace and stability for Palestinians in Ramadan message King reaffirms Saudi Arabia's commitment to serving the Two Holy Mosques and pilgrims    Exotic Taif Roses Simulation Performed at Taif Rose Festival    Asian shares mixed Tuesday    Weather Forecast for Tuesday    Saudi Tourism Authority Participates in Arabian Travel Market Exhibition in Dubai    Minister of Industry Announces 50 Investment Opportunities Worth over SAR 96 Billion in Machinery, Equipment Sector    HRH Crown Prince Offers Condolences to Crown Prince of Kuwait on Death of Sheikh Fawaz Salman Abdullah Al-Ali Al-Malek Al-Sabah    HRH Crown Prince Congratulates Santiago Peña on Winning Presidential Election in Paraguay    SDAIA Launches 1st Phase of 'Elevate Program' to Train 1,000 Women on Data, AI    41 Saudi Citizens and 171 Others from Brotherly and Friendly Countries Arrive in Saudi Arabia from Sudan    Saudi Arabia Hosts 1st Meeting of Arab Authorities Controlling Medicines    General Directorate of Narcotics Control Foils Attempt to Smuggle over 5 Million Amphetamine Pills    NAVI Javelins Crowned as Champions of Women's Counter-Strike: Global Offensive (CS:GO) Competitions    Saudi Karate Team Wins Four Medals in World Youth League Championship    Third Edition of FIFA Forward Program Kicks off in Riyadh    Evacuated from Sudan, 187 Nationals from Several Countries Arrive in Jeddah    SPA Documents Thajjud Prayer at Prophet's Mosque in Madinah    SFDA Recommends to Test Blood Sugar at Home Two or Three Hours after Meals    SFDA Offers Various Recommendations for Safe Food Frying    SFDA Provides Five Tips for Using Home Blood Pressure Monitor    SFDA: Instant Soup Contains Large Amounts of Salt    Mawani: New shipping service to connect Jubail Commercial Port to 11 global ports    Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques Delivers Speech to Pilgrims, Citizens, Residents and Muslims around the World    Sheikh Al-Issa in Arafah's Sermon: Allaah Blessed You by Making It Easy for You to Carry out This Obligation. Thus, Ensure Following the Guidance of Your Prophet    Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques addresses citizens and all Muslims on the occasion of the Holy month of Ramadan    







Thank you for reporting!
This image will be automatically disabled when it gets reported by several people.



Qatar to invest $1.3b in Malta's energy firm
Published in The Saudi Gazette on 21 - 04 - 2012

Qatar is eyeing $1.3 billion in investments in Malta's Enemalta Corp. energy company and a natural gas distribution hub on the island, the English-language newspaper Malta Today reported.
A visit by Qatari ruler Sheik Hamad bin Khalifa Al-Thani to Malta Tuesday, where he met with Prime Minister Lawrence Gonzi, resulted in the signing of six agreements between the countries covering education, health, employment and the economy.
The talks also paved the way for closer energy ties, which will likely result in a major investment in Enemalta as a strategic partner for state-owned Qatargas, the English-language newspaper Malta Today reported.
Citing senior Maltese and Qatari sources, the publication said a deal is near on establishing a distribution hub for Qatari natural gas along the Delimara Peninsula on the main island's southeastern tip.
The site of the facility would likely be near the heavy fuel oil-burning Delimara power station, which is about to open a $216 million addition and could in the future be converted to burn natural gas, the newspaper said.
The report indicated officials have scouted sites along the Delimara coast that could be used to house bunkering and docking facilities for a gas hub, which would be targeted to customers in Europe and Africa.
The sources said even as Hamad and Gonzi were conducting the state visit, negotiations on the deal were being conducted along the sidelines by Maltese Finance Minister Tonio Fenech and Qatari Minister of Energy and Industry Mohamed bin Saleh Al-Sada.
The possible investment in coming in the context of a deepening relationship between the countries. The momentum picked up steam during the Libyan crisis, when Qatar praised the island nation for providing assistance to injured civilians.
During the state visit, Gonzi announced his country was opening an embassy in Doha.
"We have always enjoyed good ties with Qatar, which grew even stronger throughout last year when Qatar used Malta as its hub for sending humanitarian aid to Libya during the uprising," Gonzi said.
Malta is also hoping to secure reliable supplies of oil and gas from Libya under its new government.
Fenech met with Libyan Oil and Gas Undersecretary Umar Shakmak this month in hopes of gaining supplies on favorable terms, the English-language Libyan Herald reported.
The newspaper said the pair discussed other ways Libya and Malta could enhance their relationship, including a meeting between Maltese technical experts and specialists from the Libya National Oil Corp.
Malta has no domestic production of energy sources and depends totally on oil imports – the only EU member state that does so.


Clic here to read the story from its source.