Saudi Arabia advances gas ambitions as $100B Jafurah plant comes online
The Finance Ministry reported that initial output at the massive Jafurah gas field has begun, with a capacity of 450 million cubic feet per day.
Saudi Arabia reached a landmark in its massive effort to expand natural gas output, with the first phase of production at the $100 billion Jafurah field now online.
The Finance Ministry revealed on Dec. 2 that output had begun with an initial capacity of 450 million cubic feet per day, marking a significant step forward in Saudi Aramco’s bid to transform the kingdom into a natural gas powerhouse.
Roughly four years in the making, this development, in addition to representing a technical milestone, signals the acceleration of a broader strategic shift: Saudi Arabia, long defined by oil, is betting heavily on natural gas to power domestic growth engines and free up more crude for export.
Gas from Jafurah is intended to supply the electricity needed to fuel Vision 2030, Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman’s economic diversification plan, which is generating huge spending on urban megaprojects and power-hungry new industries, including a growing focus on developing energy-intensive AI infrastructure.
