TECH-
India’s Mastek to help Yanbu Cement (YCC) optimize production through use of industrial IoT: India’s software services firm Mastek was awarded a “multi-tower” contract by Tadawul-listed Yanbu Cement to streamline operations at the cement maker’s production line, according to a statement by Mastek yesterday.
What we know: Mastek will focus on automating and improving the efficiency of YCC’s front-office operations and lead-to-cash process through the deployment of Oracle Fusion stack, according to the statement. It will also deploy an IoT-enabled solution to enhance truck and vehicle positioning during material loading. No financial details were provided.
BACKGROUND- YCC partnered up with Mastek in 2022 as part of efforts to boost digital transformation across its operations. The first phase of the plan saw the Indian company implementing a number of multiple back office and enterprise resource planning transformation programs.
TECHNOLOGY-
Tadawul-listed Alqemam for Computer Services has inked a three-year SAR 7.3 mn contract with Afaq Saher Contracting, it said in a regulatory filing to the exchange. The agreement would see Afaq provide IT and technical support services to one of Alqemam’s clients. This includes operating software licenses, digital platforms and network infrastructure.
#2- Nomu-listed Munawla Cargo’s net income fell 48.7% y-o-y to SAR 4.9 mn in 2023, it said in a disclosure to Tadawul. Revenue was down 15.5% y-o-y to SAR 117.4 mn over the same period. The logistics operator attributed the decline in net income to higher financing costs, and an operational delay in its transportation fleets during 1H 2023.
OIL WATCH-
Italian drilling company Saipem said that the suspension of the three jack-ups it was using for Aramco’s projects would not significantly impact their 2024 targets, stating they had budgeted to return the first jack-up rig to its owner by mid 2024, while they planned to cover most of the suspension period for the second jack-up rig with scheduled maintenance work, and intended to redeploy the third rig to a different geographical area, Reuters reported yesterday citing Saipem CEO Paolo Calcagnini.
REMEMBER- Aramco announced it will halt investments in expanded production capacity, back in January. Revising its production target down to a “maximum sustained production capacity” of 12 mn barrels of oil per day. That’s about 1 mn bpd below the target of 13 mn bpd by 2027 that it had set back in 2020.
ENTERTAINMENT-
Saudi cinema made the rounds at the third edition of the Hollywood Arab Film Festival: Egyptian-Australian filmmaker Abu Bakr Shawky received the best director award for his Saudi film Hajjan where lead actor Omar Al Atawi was named best actor for his part. Meanwhile, Zafar El-Abidine went home with the special screenplay jury award for his work on To My Son which also received the platinum reel award.
ICYMI- Hajjan also went home with the lion’s share of awards at the Gulf Cinema Festival, which wrapped up last Saturday. The Saudi film earned best feature film, best photography and best actor. Hajjan and Hwjn will also be screened at the Malmö Arab Film Festival taking place until Sunday, 28 April.
MANUFACTURING-
Sahara International Petrochemical Co. (Sipchem) will suspend operations at three of its plants for periodic maintenance starting Wednesday, 1 May, it said in a disclosure to Tadawul yesterday. The scheduled one-month maintenance period will help improve the plants’ reliability and achieve future operations plans, it said.