2018 target for listing of Aramco shares, says CEO
DUBAI: Saudi Aramco has set 2018 as a target for the anticipated listing of some of its shares as part of a privatization program.
“The current listing target is 2018,” CEO Amin Nasser said, pointing out that shares will be listed on the Saudi stock exchange and “potentially” abroad.
Aramco’s listing is at the heart of Saudi Arabia’s Vision 2030 plan to wean the economy of the world’s biggest petroleum exporter off oil.
Saudi Arabia plans to float less than five percent of Saudi Aramco on the stock market.
Oil prices have been recovering but are still weak, the head of Saudi Aramco said, warning that market volatility could persist in the near future.
“While the oil market has recovered from its most severe period, it’s still weak,” Saudi Aramco CEO Amin Nasser said at an energy conference in Dubai.
He said global supply has begun to fall, “especially US shale oil,” due to the cancelation or deferring of investments in new oil and gas capacity.
“Despite volatility, the market is heading toward rebalance, and prices are likely to strengthen with time,” Nasser said.
“However, market volatility could remain with us for the near future.”
Oil prices rose modestly ahead of a meeting of producers from the Organization of the Petroleum Exporting Countries cartel and Russia in Algeria this week that could agree to cap supplies.
Around 1100 GMT, the US benchmark West Texas Intermediate for delivery in November was up 54 cents at $45.02 a barrel.
Brent North Sea crude for November added 60 cents to $46.49 a barrel compared with Friday’s close.
Despite the positivity, fears remain that an agreement cannot be reached in Algiers. Previous attempts to do so in April were scuppered by Iran, which had just emerged from years of Westernimposed nuclear-linked sanctions.