He stated that oil and gas’s contribution to the Kingdom’s development and the prosperity of its people, either over the past decades or in the future, is beyond doubt. What we need now is to develop the various energy sources to achieve economic competitiveness, meet the needs of development while fulfilling the requirements of environmental preservation and creating practical and scientific solutions to use energy at lower cost and with higher efficiency, he said. And here comes the role of universities and research centers, such as the King Abdullah Center for Petroleum Studies and Research Center that you are inaugurating today, he said. The minister added that the Kingdom has always given special attention to education and scientific research since its establishment at the hands of the Founding King, King Abdulaziz ibn Abdulrahman, may Allah have mercy on his soul, in order achieve national development and prosperity for its people, utilize its various resources optimally, and join the ranks of the most advanced nations. In light of the Kingdom’s leading and significant role in the global energy market and the significance of oil to the national economy, the Government directed the Saudi Aramco to establish a center specialized in the studies of oil, and of energy in general, he said, adding that this center received significant support from the late King Abdullah ibn Abdulaziz, may Allah have mercy on his soul, and still receives the same level of support from the Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques, King Salman ibn Abdulaziz, he added. He concluded that the Center has achieved outstanding results during the short period since it was established, and has garnered significant global respect and attention. We are confident that it will have impact both locally and globally during the years and decades to come. --More 19:11 LOCAL TIME 16:11 GMT www.spa.gov.sa/w