Saudi Arabia Ignites Gas Ambitions as $100 Billion Jafurah Plant Begins Output
State-owned Saudi Aramco confirms first production from giant Jafurah gas field, a key pillar in Riyadh’s energy transition and economic diversification strategy
Saudi Arabia has officially launched production at the first phase of the Jafurah gas project, with the state oil giant Saudi Aramco reporting an initial output of 450 million cubic feet of natural gas per day.
The milestone — highlighted in the 2026 national budget — marks the beginning of what the kingdom calls a transformative expansion in its domestic gas supply.
The Jafurah development, with a total investment expected to exceed $100 billion, is among the largest unconventional gas initiatives globally.
Aramco’s leadership has described the field as a “crown jewel” of its growing gas portfolio.
When fully completed — by around 2030 — the project is projected to deliver up to 2 billion cubic feet per day of sales gas, alongside substantial volumes of ethane, natural gas liquids and condensates.
The field’s estimated reserves include 229 trillion cubic feet of raw gas and some 75 billion barrels of condensate.
The timing of the launch underscores the kingdom’s broader ambition to pivot away from oil-heavy domestic energy consumption and utilise gas for power generation, water desalination and industrial feedstock — freeing more crude for export.
Analysts note that the growth in gas output could significantly support Saudi Arabia’s industrial base, especially petrochemical and energy-intensive sectors, in line with its long-term economic diversification goals.
To underwrite the project’s infrastructure investment, Aramco recently secured a landmark $11 billion lease and leaseback agreement with a consortium led by a major global investment firm.
Under the arrangement, a newly formed subsidiary — while majority-owned by Aramco — will manage the gas processing and fractionation facilities on a 20-year leaseback structure.
The deal has drawn attention as one of the largest foreign direct investments in the Kingdom’s energy sector in years, reflecting growing global investor confidence in Saudi Arabia’s gas ambitions and long-term strategic direction.
For Riyadh, the activation of Jafurah is not merely an energy milestone but a strategic pivot: modernising its domestic energy mix, strengthening industrial supply chains, unlocking new export potential, and underlining its commitment to a post-oil economic model.
The first output from Jafurah signals that the Kingdom’s gas-driven future is entering a decisive, operational phase.
The milestone — highlighted in the 2026 national budget — marks the beginning of what the kingdom calls a transformative expansion in its domestic gas supply.
The Jafurah development, with a total investment expected to exceed $100 billion, is among the largest unconventional gas initiatives globally.
Aramco’s leadership has described the field as a “crown jewel” of its growing gas portfolio.
When fully completed — by around 2030 — the project is projected to deliver up to 2 billion cubic feet per day of sales gas, alongside substantial volumes of ethane, natural gas liquids and condensates.
The field’s estimated reserves include 229 trillion cubic feet of raw gas and some 75 billion barrels of condensate.
The timing of the launch underscores the kingdom’s broader ambition to pivot away from oil-heavy domestic energy consumption and utilise gas for power generation, water desalination and industrial feedstock — freeing more crude for export.
Analysts note that the growth in gas output could significantly support Saudi Arabia’s industrial base, especially petrochemical and energy-intensive sectors, in line with its long-term economic diversification goals.
To underwrite the project’s infrastructure investment, Aramco recently secured a landmark $11 billion lease and leaseback agreement with a consortium led by a major global investment firm.
Under the arrangement, a newly formed subsidiary — while majority-owned by Aramco — will manage the gas processing and fractionation facilities on a 20-year leaseback structure.
The deal has drawn attention as one of the largest foreign direct investments in the Kingdom’s energy sector in years, reflecting growing global investor confidence in Saudi Arabia’s gas ambitions and long-term strategic direction.
For Riyadh, the activation of Jafurah is not merely an energy milestone but a strategic pivot: modernising its domestic energy mix, strengthening industrial supply chains, unlocking new export potential, and underlining its commitment to a post-oil economic model.
The first output from Jafurah signals that the Kingdom’s gas-driven future is entering a decisive, operational phase.
