Pakistan approaches Riyadh for renewal of $3.2b oil facility | World Defense

Pakistan approaches Riyadh for renewal of $3.2b oil facility

Counter-Errorist

THINK TANK
Joined
Oct 1, 2019
Messages
1,105
Reactions
2,855 149 0
Country
Pakistan
Location
Pakistan
Agreement for provision of oil on deferred payments per annum expired two months ago

August 07, 2020


31596825277-0.jpg


An agreement between Pakistan and Saudi Arabia for provision of $3.2 billion worth of oil on deferred payments per annum has expired two months ago and decision about its renewal remains pending with Riyadh, sources told The Express Tribune.

The $3.2 billion Saudi oil facility was part of the $6.2-billion Saudi Arabian package announced in November 2018 to ease Pakistan’s external sector woes. Pakistan has already prematurely returned $1 billion Saudi loan - four months ahead of its repayment period.

Sources said that Pakistan could also return $2 billion remaining Saudi cash loan, subject to availability of similar facility from China.

The agreement over $3 billion cash support and $3.2 billion oil facility per annum had the provision of renewal for two more years.

The sources said that Saudi Arabia has not provided the oil on deferred payments since May this year. The budget estimates suggested that the government was hoping to receive minimum $1 billion worth of oil in fiscal year 2020-21, which started from July.

A spokesman of the Petroleum Division has also confirmed the development about expiry of the facility.

“The agreement expired in May 2020,” said Sajid Qazi, the spokesman of the Petroleum Division. The spokesman further stated that the efforts were being made by the Finance Division to renew the facility.

The spokesman said that the response from Saudi Arabian government was awaited over Pakistan’s request to further extend the facility, in line with the provision of the agreement.

The Ministry of Finance did not respond to The Express Tribune’s question about the updated status of Pakistan’s request. The State Bank of Pakistan and the Ministry of Finance have not yet taken the media into confidence about these developments.

In May last year, Adviser to Prime Minister on Finance Dr Abdul Hafeez Shaikh had announced through his twitter handle that “from July 1, 2019 KSA is activating the deferred payment for petroleum products facility of $275 million per month amounting to $3.2 billion per year for three years”.

Saudi Arabia had rolled over its $3 billion loan from between November 2019 to January 2020, according to the International Monetary Fund (IMF) report. The IMF has termed the rollovers of Saudi Arabian, United Arab Emirates and Chinese assistance critical for Pakistan’s debt sustainability.

Pakistan’s repayment of $1 billion Saudi Arabian loan after borrowing from China and expiry of the oil facility underscores challenging relations between two Islamic nations.

Pakistan was paying 3.2% interest on Saudi Arabia loan. It has now arranged $1 billion loan from State Administration Foreign Exchange (SAFE) of China at London Interbank Offered Rate (LIBOR) plus 1%, which at current rates comes to around 1.18% due to near zero interest rates in the world.

The Saudi oil facility that had been secured after hectic backdoor lobbying with the royal family remained underutilised in the last fiscal year. The $769 million deferred payment facility on supply of oil was availed from Saudi government, according to the spokesman of the Petroleum Division.

The Saudi facility faced roadblocks since the beginning. Initially, both the countries had a plan to make the facility operational from January 2019. But it actually became operational from July last year.

The United Arab Emirates (UAE) had also announced a $6.2 billion package for Pakistan in December 2018, including $3.2 billion oil facility. But later on, the UAE reduced its financial assistance to $2 billion and also shelved the plan to give $3.2 billion oil facility on deferred payments.

The UAE and Saudi Arabian oil credit facilities were part of the $14.5-billion package agreed with three friendly countries, including China. After coming into power, the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) government faced an immediate challenge of filling a $12 billion hole, which the Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) government had left behind due to a widening current account deficit.

Under the Saudi agreement, the Pak-Arab Refinery Company (Parco) and the National Refinery Limited (NRL) were required to procure crude oil from Saudi Aramco Product Trading Company. Similarly, Pakistan State Oil (PSO) and Pakistan LNG Limited (PLL) were supposed to procure petroleum products and LNG from the Saudi company, respectively.

The two countries inked a financing agreement for the import of petroleum products, crude oil and LNG on February 17, 2019 during the Saudi crown prince’s Islamabad visit.

Pakistan faces challenging situation at a time when its IMF programme also remains technically suspended for the last five months. Returning of Saudi loans and expiry of the oil facility could strain the official reserves of the central bank, which are built purely by taking loans.

 
Last edited:

Gripen9

THINK TANK
Joined
Sep 5, 2019
Messages
1,417
Reactions
5,232 245 0
Country
Pakistan
Location
USA
So we can safely assume that the recent statement from Mahmood Qureshi were not state sanctioned and he either deliberately went rogue (at someone's behest) or had a slip of tongue moment.
Question is why is being allowed to undermine strategic relations with a key ally.
 
Last edited:

Counter-Errorist

THINK TANK
Joined
Oct 1, 2019
Messages
1,105
Reactions
2,855 149 0
Country
Pakistan
Location
Pakistan
So we can safely assume that the recent statement from Mahmood Qureshi were not state sanctioned and he either deliberately went rogue (at someone's behest) and had a slip of tongue moment.
Question is why is being allowed to undermine strategic relations with a key ally.
Not a slip of tongue. Look at the timing. He made that statement on the eve of us requesting a renewal of the agreement. Definitely planned sabotage.
 

Khafee

Administrator
Staff member
Joined
Nov 17, 2017
Messages
12,324
Reactions
24,463 1,293 0
The United Arab Emirates (UAE) had also announced a $6.2 billion package for Pakistan in December 2018, including $3.2 billion oil facility. But later on, the UAE reduced its financial assistance to $2 billion and also shelved the plan to give $3.2 billion oil facility on deferred payments.

This is a fake news peddled on behalf of Ayatollahs. UAE never promised any oil facility.

As to the remaining $1bn of the $3bn, this is how it was & is being facilitated:
 

Khafee

Administrator
Staff member
Joined
Nov 17, 2017
Messages
12,324
Reactions
24,463 1,293 0
Agreement for provision of oil on deferred payments per annum expired two months ago

August 07, 2020


31596825277-0.jpg


An agreement between Pakistan and Saudi Arabia for provision of $3.2 billion worth of oil on deferred payments per annum has expired two months ago and decision about its renewal remains pending with Riyadh, sources told The Express Tribune.

The $3.2 billion Saudi oil facility was part of the $6.2-billion Saudi Arabian package announced in November 2018 to ease Pakistan’s external sector woes. Pakistan has already prematurely returned $1 billion Saudi loan - four months ahead of its repayment period.

Sources said that Pakistan could also return $2 billion remaining Saudi cash loan, subject to availability of similar facility from China.

The agreement over $3 billion cash support and $3.2 billion oil facility per annum had the provision of renewal for two more years.

The sources said that Saudi Arabia has not provided the oil on deferred payments since May this year. The budget estimates suggested that the government was hoping to receive minimum $1 billion worth of oil in fiscal year 2020-21, which started from July.

A spokesman of the Petroleum Division has also confirmed the development about expiry of the facility.

“The agreement expired in May 2020,” said Sajid Qazi, the spokesman of the Petroleum Division. The spokesman further stated that the efforts were being made by the Finance Division to renew the facility.

The spokesman said that the response from Saudi Arabian government was awaited over Pakistan’s request to further extend the facility, in line with the provision of the agreement.

The Ministry of Finance did not respond to The Express Tribune’s question about the updated status of Pakistan’s request. The State Bank of Pakistan and the Ministry of Finance have not yet taken the media into confidence about these developments.

In May last year, Adviser to Prime Minister on Finance Dr Abdul Hafeez Shaikh had announced through his twitter handle that “from July 1, 2019 KSA is activating the deferred payment for petroleum products facility of $275 million per month amounting to $3.2 billion per year for three years”.

Saudi Arabia had rolled over its $3 billion loan from between November 2019 to January 2020, according to the International Monetary Fund (IMF) report. The IMF has termed the rollovers of Saudi Arabian, United Arab Emirates and Chinese assistance critical for Pakistan’s debt sustainability.

Pakistan’s repayment of $1 billion Saudi Arabian loan after borrowing from China and expiry of the oil facility underscores challenging relations between two Islamic nations.

Pakistan was paying 3.2% interest on Saudi Arabia loan. It has now arranged $1 billion loan from State Administration Foreign Exchange (SAFE) of China at London Interbank Offered Rate (LIBOR) plus 1%, which at current rates comes to around 1.18% due to near zero interest rates in the world.

The Saudi oil facility that had been secured after hectic backdoor lobbying with the royal family remained underutilised in the last fiscal year. The $769 million deferred payment facility on supply of oil was availed from Saudi government, according to the spokesman of the Petroleum Division.

The Saudi facility faced roadblocks since the beginning. Initially, both the countries had a plan to make the facility operational from January 2019. But it actually became operational from July last year.

The United Arab Emirates (UAE) had also announced a $6.2 billion package for Pakistan in December 2018, including $3.2 billion oil facility. But later on, the UAE reduced its financial assistance to $2 billion and also shelved the plan to give $3.2 billion oil facility on deferred payments.

The UAE and Saudi Arabian oil credit facilities were part of the $14.5-billion package agreed with three friendly countries, including China. After coming into power, the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) government faced an immediate challenge of filling a $12 billion hole, which the Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) government had left behind due to a widening current account deficit.

Under the Saudi agreement, the Pak-Arab Refinery Company (Parco) and the National Refinery Limited (NRL) were required to procure crude oil from Saudi Aramco Product Trading Company. Similarly, Pakistan State Oil (PSO) and Pakistan LNG Limited (PLL) were supposed to procure petroleum products and LNG from the Saudi company, respectively.

The two countries inked a financing agreement for the import of petroleum products, crude oil and LNG on February 17, 2019 during the Saudi crown prince’s Islamabad visit.

Pakistan faces challenging situation at a time when its IMF programme also remains technically suspended for the last five months. Returning of Saudi loans and expiry of the oil facility could strain the official reserves of the central bank, which are built purely by taking loans.
Pls always provide link to OP's

Thanks!
 

TsAr

THINK TANK
Joined
Sep 3, 2019
Messages
1,054
Reactions
3,227 74 0
Country
Pakistan
Location
Pakistan
I don't know why SMQ gave this interview, what was the background behind it. But he did not give it on his own, something is surely cooking in the background.
 

Counter-Errorist

THINK TANK
Joined
Oct 1, 2019
Messages
1,105
Reactions
2,855 149 0
Country
Pakistan
Location
Pakistan
Another point to consider.

China's ready to invest in Iran. Other than extending BRI, China's looking to tap Iran's oil and gas, providing it an alternative to petroleum resources in the GCC.
 

Scorpio

SENIOR MEMBER
Joined
Jan 14, 2020
Messages
1,662
Reactions
3,018 66 0
Country
Pakistan
Location
Pakistan
Whatever is cooking behind closed doors is definitely seems to some kind of stupidity which can effect our current and future relationship badly
 

Aadi

MEMBER
Joined
Apr 29, 2020
Messages
68
Reactions
117 2 0
Country
Pakistan
Location
Pakistan
I don't know why SMQ gave this interview, what was the background behind it. But he did not give it on his own, something is surely cooking in the background.
Definitely, because foreign office also defended his statement as well
 

Scorpion

THINK TANK: SENIOR
Joined
Nov 27, 2014
Messages
3,868
Reactions
3,197 56 0
Country
Saudi Arabia
Location
Saudi Arabia
that the recent statement from Mahmood Qureshi

What was the statment and who is Mahmood Qureshi?
Another point to consider.

China's ready to invest in Iran. Other than extending BRI, China's looking to tap Iran's oil and gas, providing it an alternative to petroleum resources in the GCC.

Saudi Aramco stores its oil in China and Japan. They already cover what China needs for years to come!
 

Counter-Errorist

THINK TANK
Joined
Oct 1, 2019
Messages
1,105
Reactions
2,855 149 0
Country
Pakistan
Location
Pakistan
What was the statment and who is Mahmood Qureshi?


Saudi Aramco stores its oil in China and Japan. They already cover what China needs for years to come!
KSA's relation with the US worries China. I hope the GCC can begin the balance the relationship between the two to maximize its influence. China will soon be to too big to ignore in Asia.
 

Khafee

Administrator
Staff member
Joined
Nov 17, 2017
Messages
12,324
Reactions
24,463 1,293 0
What was the statment and who is Mahmood Qureshi?


Saudi Aramco stores its oil in China and Japan. They already cover what China needs for years to come!
Qureshi asks OIC to stop dragging feet on Kashmir meeting
Foreign Minister Shah Mehmood Qureshi in an unusually sharp warning asked Saudi Arabia-led Organisation of Islamic Cooperation (OIC) on Wednesday to stop dilly-dallying on the convening of a meeting of its Council of Foreign Ministers (CFM) on Kashmir.

from same OP:
Mr Qureshi said that if OIC fails to summon the CFM meeting, Pakistan would be ready to go for a session outside OIC.

IMO that is an excellent idea, dont waste time, it should have been done MONTHS ago! Let the world see, that these countries who he is so heavily banking on, provide lip service, and a big $0/- Come on man, grow a pair, DO IT!
 
Top