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Volume 42 Issue 5
KSA
SAudi ArAbiA APPointS he eng KhAled Al FAlih
aS nEW EnErgY, induSTrY and
naTural rESourCES MiniSTEr
Saudi Arabia’s Royal Diwan has an-
nounced, in a statement issued on 7 May 2016,
a number of royal decrees to restructure some
ministries, apparatuses, and public authori-
ties. A number of ministers and officials have
been replaced. The Ministry of Petroleum and
Mineral Resources has been renamed as the
Ministry of Energy, Industry and Natural
Resources,
which will be specialized in en-
ergy and relevant issues, as well as, electricity
and industrial activities. The Ministry will also
handle the national programme on developing
industrial complexes.
The royal decrees have also appointed
HE Eng Khaled Al Falih, previously health
minister, as the new Energy, Industry and
Natural Resources Minister. HE Eng Ali
Al Naimi has been relieved of his duties as
Petroleum and Mineral Resources Minister
and has been appointed as Advisor at the Royal
Diwan with a ministerial status.
The statement pointed out that the restruc-
turing of some ministries, apparatuses, and
public authorities stemmed from the concept
of continuous development, and in line with
the KSA’s 2030 vision to contribute to im-
proving governmental bodies and the level of
provided services to citizens and expats. This
all feeds into achieving a better future and sus-
tainable development. The statement clarified
that these amendments aim at defining respon-
sibilities and facilitating measures to provide
better services in line with the country’s poli-
cies.
Minister Khaled Al Falih is also Chairman
of the state oil company Aramco. He is one of
the remarkable oil figures both regionally and
internationally.
On his part, HE Abbas Ali Al Naqi,
OAPEC Secretary General, has sent a cable
of congratulations, also on behalf of OAPEC
staff, to HE Al Falih, on the occasion of his
new appointment wishing him all success
in his new post while looking forward to
continuing Saudi Arabia’s great support for
OAPEC activities.