Oil affairs in Saudi Arabia

This file concerns oil affairs in Saudi Arabia. It contains correspondence and media reports on:

• A paper prepared by the UK Department of Energy for the working party on the vast surpluses of oil producers
• The movements and statements of the Saudi Minister of Oil and Mineral Resources Sheikh Ahmad Zaki Yamani
• Discussions between Saudi Arabia and the Arabian American Oil Company (ARAMCO) regarding the possibility of the government taking over a majority share of the company
• Messages exchanged between the governor of Petromin Abdulhadi Taher and H Brian Thomas of Burmah Oil Trading Limited
• Reports on a drop in oil production in Saudi Arabia
• BP's plans to construct a protein plant in Saudi Arabia
• The visit of an Arab petroleum delegation to the UK
• Shell's plans for the construction of a refinery in Saudi Arabia
• A dispute between Jordan and Trans-Arabian Pipeline (Tapline)
• The visit to Saudi Arabia of Leonard Williams of the Department of Energy to discuss the organisation of Petromin and what might be learnt from it for the British National Oil Corporation (BNOC)
• An article from To The Point International regarding Saudi Arabia's plans for social change and industrial diversification to end dependence on oil
• The establishment of the Arab Petroleum Investments Company, with its headquarters in Dammam
• A meeting of the Group on International Energy Questions
• Uncertainty over future Saudi oil policy following the end of the reign of King Faisal Bin Abdul Aziz Al Saud
• Concerns that the Saudi decision to allow their oil production to sink may cause a diminution of demand for oil in international trade, and a drop in prices
• The possibility of technical cooperation between the UK and Saudi Arabia on new alternative sources of energy
• The plans of Petromin for joint venture projects in refining, petrochemicals, and steel
• An interview with Sheikh Yamani published in L'Europeo