Oil and gas group Saudi Aramco reported a record profit of $161 billion last year. Converted, this is more than 151 billion euros. The Saudi state oil company made that profit, which was nearly half higher than in 2021 due to the sharp increase in oil prices.
Saudi Aramco was able to sell more oil because Western countries and some Asian allies wanted to buy less Russian oil. The prices of refined petroleum products have also risen sharply. The company therefore decided to increase its dividend, by 4 percent compared to the third quarter. That dividend is an important source of income for the Saudi Arabian government.
trend
Saudi Aramco’s annual figures match a trend. Other major oil companies like BP, Shell, ExxonMobil, and Chevron also made record profits in 2022. In that year, oil prices soared sharply due to the war in Ukraine and Western sanctions against Russia. But the Chinese crown lockdowns have actually reduced demand for oil, and worries about an economic recession have also negatively impacted prices.
CEO Amin Nasser has warned of the risk of underinvestment in fossil fuels. This, he says, contributes to rising oil prices. According to him, oil and gas will be essential for the economy in the coming years. At the same time, Nasser announced that his company is investing in clean energy. But much of this investment goes to capturing CO2 emissions, which critics say is not a sustainable solution.
Source: BNR
Andrew Dwight is an author and economy journalist who writes for 24 News Globe. He has a deep understanding of financial markets and a passion for analyzing economic trends and news. With a talent for breaking down complex economic concepts into easily understandable terms, Andrew has become a respected voice in the field of economics journalism.
