DAMMAM, 16 March 2004 — A dispute has been settled between Aramco and a local man in Ahsa over a piece of land he owned on which a gas well was located. Salah Al-Saad stated that he had owned the 345 square meters piece of land for 4 years; he estimated it to be worth SR250,000. He said that he was surprised to discover a gas well and Aramco pipes on the property. Ahsa municipality had informed him that the company would offer financial compensation in exchange for him disclaiming any rights to the property. But the offer of SR150,000, according to Al-Saad, was insufficient because it was less than the price paid for the land. The final agreed price was SR200,000. The negotiations lasted more than eight months.
