A strategic achievement within Vision 2030
Saudi Aramco, a global leader in energy and chemicals, announced a historic milestone with the commencement of production at the Jafurah field, the largest unconventional (shale) gas field in the Middle East. This significant step coincides with the official start-up of the Tanajib Gas Processing Plant, one of the world’s largest gas processing facilities, representing a major advancement in the company’s ambitious strategy to expand its natural gas production.
This mega-project is a cornerstone of achieving the goals of Saudi Vision 2030, which aims to diversify national income sources and reduce reliance on crude oil. By developing the vast gas resources of the Jafurah field, the Kingdom seeks to meet growing domestic energy demand, provide fuel for the industrial and petrochemical sectors, and replace liquid fuels used in electricity generation, thereby contributing to reducing carbon emissions and achieving net-zero energy neutrality by 2060.
Jafurah Field: Huge Figures and Potential
The Jafurah field is located in the Eastern Province and covers a vast area of approximately 17,000 square kilometers. The total resources of this giant reservoir are estimated at around 200 trillion cubic feet of raw gas, in addition to substantial quantities of gas liquids, ethane, and high-value condensates. Saudi Aramco aims to achieve sustainable production from the field of up to 2 billion standard cubic feet per day of sales gas by 2030.
In addition to sales gas, the field is expected to produce approximately 420 million standard cubic feet of ethane, a key feedstock in the petrochemical industry, and around 630,000 barrels per day of gas liquids and condensates by 2030. These figures not only place the Kingdom on the map of major global gas producers but also enhance its capacity to develop advanced downstream industries.
Economic and environmental importance of the project
Aramco President and CEO Amin Nasser stated that this achievement represents a significant milestone for both the company and the Kingdom. He affirmed that the development of the Jafurah field will contribute to additional cash flows for the company ranging between $12 billion and $15 billion by 2030, depending on future market prices.
Domestically, the project is a powerful economic driver, expected to create thousands of direct and indirect job opportunities for citizens and support the growth of key sectors such as energy, advanced industries, and artificial intelligence. Environmentally, replacing crude oil with natural gas in power generation and desalination plants will lead to a significant reduction in emissions, reinforcing the Kingdom's commitment to environmental sustainability and combating climate change.
Regional and global impacts
The start of production at the Jafurah field reinforces Saudi Arabia’s position as a pivotal player in global energy markets, not only in oil but also in the gas sector. While initial production will be dedicated to meeting domestic demand, the vast reserves open up future opportunities for liquefied natural gas (LNG) exports, potentially altering the dynamics of the global gas market in the long term. Adding these substantial gas volumes to Saudi Arabia’s energy portfolio provides greater flexibility and strengthens global energy security by ensuring a reliable and sustainable supply.
