RIYADH: Saudi Arabia is leading the regional push towards electric vehicle (EV) adoption but battery prices remain a worry for motorists, according to a top Nissan official. Guillaume Cartier, senior vice president of marketing and sales at the Japanese motor manufacturer said that the speed of introduction would depend on a fall in battery prices to a level that made the cost of an EV equivalent to that of a regular car. Speaking to Asharq Business, Cartier said that a comprehensive infrastructure for charging EVs was needed before a successful transition could happen. He noted that there was an intention to switch to EVs and that the region was moving from a mentality of pioneering the adoption of EV technology to a real desire to provide it.
Wednesday, 24 February, 2021 - 11:15
The Saudi Minister of Industry and Mineral Resources Bandar al-Khorayef (Asharq Al-Awsat) Riyadh - Asharq Al-Awsat
Saudi Arabia’s Minister of Industry and Mineral Resources Bandar al-Khorayef said his ministry will set the necessary legislations and regulations to localize the pharmaceuticals industry in partnership with relevant government bodies.
During the inauguration of a virtual workshop to localize and attract investments in the sector, Khorayef noted that the size of the pharmaceuticals industry in the Kingdom stands at SAR30 billion ($8 billion), the largest in the region, and accounts for more than 30 percent of the Middle East market.
The world has suffered unprecedented health challenges due to the coronavirus pandemic, Khorayef explained, citing the health and medical challenge and its impact on supply chains as well as the change in people’s lifestyles.
JEDDAH: With sunlight lasting approximately nine hours a day in Saudi Arabia, properties in the Kingdom have been given the green light to install solar panels as an alternative form of electricity generation.
The Ministry of Municipal and Rural Affairs and Housing announced this week that it began to implement the safety requirements necessary to install solar energy cells in residential buildings and facilities.
Participating entities in this project include the Ministry of Energy; the Electricity and Co-Generation Regulatory Authority; the Ministry of Commerce and Investment; the King Abdullah City for Atomic and Renewable Energy; and the Saudi Standards, Metrology and Quality Organization.
Monday, 8 February, 2021 - 09:45
In 2020, the Saudi Standards, Metrology and Quality Organization revoked a number of licenses and suspended five others for violating Saudi Quality Mark requirements - Asharq Al-Awsat Riyadh - Asharq Al-Awsat
The Saudi Standards, Metrology and Quality Organization (SASO) revoked the license of ten factories and suspended five others for violating the requirements of the general technical regulation for the Saudi Quality Mark last year.
It confirmed that over the past year, it developed the specifications and standards of conformity, metrology, and product safety, seeking global reliability.
Also, the organization issued 300 new licenses, bringing the total to 900 with 65,000 licensed products, a 39 percent increase of 2019.
RIYADH: Saudi Ministry of Energy announced that small-scale solar photovoltaic (PV) systems are ready to produce electricity for consumers’ houses and enterprises, to be later connected to the Kingdom’s grid, Saudi Press Agency reported on Tuesday, citing a ministry statement.
The economic feasibility of installing the small-scale solar PV systems will be studied, while determining the estimated costs and the measures related to the safe connection to the grid, in addition to the related applicable specifications.
In this regard, the Electricity & Co-Generation Regulatory Authority (ECRA) developed a new platform, “Shamsi”, as other governmental authorities assume their responsibilities according to respective competencies.