The Cabinet Monday approved amending electricity tariffs for business, industry and government. The new tariffs will not exceed 26 halalas per kilowatt hour, depending on power supply capacities at peak hours, Minister of Culture and Information Abdul Aziz Khoja said. Power tariffs in the residential sector will remain unchanged. The Cabinet's decision was based on a report submitted by the minister of water and electricity who also chairs the Commission of Electricity Organization and Dual Production (CEODP). CEODP is tasked with regulating and supervising the electricity, energy and water desalination industries, assessing tariffs and issuing licenses. The Cabinet, acting on the recommendations by the Supreme Economic Council, also decided to license the National Company for Insurance as a joint stock company. On other matters, the Cabinet session, chaired by King Abdullah, reviewed preparations by the ministries of Education and Health to create swine flu awareness among school students when the new academic year starts. Intermediate and secondary school students are due to return this Saturday and primary school pupils seven days later. Khoja said the Cabinet approved a Saudi-Qatari memorandum of understanding for cultural and information cooperation and a defense cooperation agreement between the Kingdom and South Africa. The minister of culture and information, or his deputy, was authorized to start discussions for a Saudi-Egyptian draft media cooperation agreement. Khoja said the Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques offered condolences to the victims of floods and other natural disasters in Asia and around the world, and prayed for their well-being. King Abdullah also thanked international figures for their presence at the inauguration ceremony of King Abdullah University for Science and Technology (Kaust). The Cabinet was further briefed on the outcome of the most recent Interfaith Conference which concluded in Geneva last Thursday. The Cabinet, Khoja said, stressed the need for an interfaith dialogue to promote harmony and mutual respect across the globe. According to Khoja, the recently held G20 summit and the UN's 64th session also came under discussion.
