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Gas Related
Information
     

Saudi Arabia possesses vast reserves of natural gas – dissolved, associated and non-associated – which it uses as an environmentally friendly energy source for urban and industrial use.

Major industrial facilities also use gas as feedstock to produce petrochemicals, fertilizers, steel and other products that in turn feed a thriving industrial sector.

Exploration of the Kingdom’s natural gas resources remains ongoing. Major deposits have been discovered in the Eastern Province near Abqaiq and southwest of the Ghawar oil field.

 

Until the 1970s, most of the natural gas produced in the Kingdom was in association with crude oil production, and was flared off at the well.  An ambitious project known as the Master Gas System allowed Saudi Aramco to collect the gas and pipe it around the country.

Saudi Arabia also actively promotes foreign investment in natural gas.  In July 2003 an agreement was signed with Royal Dutch/Shell and France’s Total to develop upstream gas operations in the Empty Quarter (Rub’ al-Khali). In March 2005, additional contracts were signed for two vast oil and gas projects.


 

 

Related Information: Energy

RecentNews:
 
07/14/2008   Cabinet welcomes King Abdullah’s call for interfaith dialogue
07/08/2008   King Abdullah approves program for privatizing SWCC
07/01/2008   King Abdullah: Saudi Arabia not responsible for high oil prices
06/24/2008   World Bank to work with Saudi Arabia on energy initiative


Other Documents:


Energy
More than a quarter of the world's proven oil reserves lie beneath the sands and offshore waters of Saudi Arabia. The discovery of these reserves and the building of the necessary facilities to make possible their use have made the Kingdom the world's largest exporter of oil and natural gas.

Oil
In 1933, Saudi Arabia's founder King Abdulaziz bin Abdelrahman Al-Saud granted the now-historic right to the Standard Oil Company of California (SOCAL) to prospect for oil in the Kingdom.

OPEC
The level of Saudi Arabia's oil production varies according to the state of the world oil market and the quotas of the Organization of Petroleum Exporting Countries (OPEC).
Refining
In the 1960s, Saudi Arabia began to build refineries for domestic and export production. Prior to that, the Kingdom had to send its crude oil to foreign refineries for processing and import refined products for its own use. The country rapidly expanded its refining capacity under the development plans in the 1970s.
Minerals & Minings
As early as 1,000 BC, the inhabitants of the Arabian Peninsula extracted gold, silver and copper from the mine called Mahd Al-Dhahab (Cradle of Gold), located about 180 miles northeast of Jeddah.
Electricity
The five-year development plans have targeted the electrification of the country as a top priority.
Solar Energy
In keeping with its long-standing objective of exploring major renewable sources of energy, Saudi Arabia has undertaken extensive research on solar energy.



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