Saudi Arabia energy report

• The Saudi Green Initiative set a target of 50% renewables in the power mix in 2030.
• The sale of 1.5% of Saudi Aramco, the largest oil producer in the world, was completed in late 2019.
• SEC owns most of the generation, transmission, and distribution capacities.
• Saudi Arabia holds 17% of global oil reserves and was the world's first largest oil producer in 2020.
• Despite large natural gas resources (6^th largest worldwide), the country does not export gas.
• Gasoline and diesel prices have been raised substantially since 2014, but are still among the lowest in the world.
• Electricity prices were increased significantly between 2016 and 2018.
• The country's energy consumption has been declining slightly since 2015 with the price increases and the economic slowdown.
• Saudi Arabia continues to target a rapid increase in gas production. Saudi Aramco will invest over US$100bn to develop unconventional gas production from the Jafurah basin.

• Institutions & Energy Policy

  The Ministry of Energy is in charge of the energy sector and all energy policies. The environment is under the responsibility of the Ministry of Environment, Water and Agriculture.

• Energy Companies

  Electricity:

  SEC, Saudi Electric Company (75.1% public, 6.9% Saudi Aramco) was created in 2000 through the merger of the existing regional electricity companies ("SCECOS") with the national electricity production, transport, and distribution company.

• Energy Supply

  Gas:

  The marketed gas production is growing rapidly and reached 97 bcm in 2020 (+3%/year since 2010). The production has risen by 2.5 since 2000 and is exclusively consumed domestically.

  Saudi Arabia has several gas processing plants for a total capacity of 528 mcm/d as part of Master Gas System framework. The main plants are:

• Energy Prices

  Electricity:

  Prices are regulated and were frozen between 2000 and 2015. In 2016, the prices for industry were raised by 50% to reach US$4.8c/kWh, while residential prices doubled to US$2.7c/kWh and further increased in 2018 to equal those of the industry sector.

  Graph: ELECTRICITY PRICES FOR INDUSTRY AND HOUSEHOLDS (US$c/kWh)

• Energy Consumption

  Consumption per capita is very high, reaching 6 toe in 2019, including about 8.8 MWh of electricity.

• Issues & Prospects

  Gas:

  Saudi Arabia targets a rapid increase in its gas production, with a focus on increased penetration of gas in power generation. The country aims to double its gas production capacity in ten years to more than 200 bcm/year in 2025.

• GENERAL OVERVIEW
• INSTITUTIONS AND ENERGY POLICY
• ENERGY COMPANIES
• ENERGY SUPPLY
• ENERGY PRICES
• ENERGY CONSUMPTION
• ISSUES AND PROSPECTS
• DATA TABLES
• ABBREVIATIONS
• GLOSSARY

Download the Table of Contents

Below is a list of the Saudi Arabia energy market report graphs:

• GRAPH 1: CO₂-Energy emissions (MtCO₂)
• GRAPH 2: Installed electric capacity by source (2020, %)
• GRAPH 3: Gross power production by source (TWh)
• GRAPH 4: Power generation by source (2020, %)
• GRAPH 5: Gasoline & diesel prices (US$/l)
• GRAPH 6: Electricity prices for industry and households (US$c/kWh)
• GRAPH 7: Consumption trends by energy source (Mtoe)
• GRAPH 8: Total consumption market share by energy (2020, %)
• GRAPH 9: Final consumption market share by sector (2020, %)

In the Saudi Arabia energy market report you will find the following tables:

• Economic Indicators: Annual historical data including population, GDP growth, imports and exports, inflation rate, energy security and efficiency indicators, CO₂ emissions.
• Supply Indicators: Historical data including oil and gas reserves, electric and refining capacity, energy production, power production and external trade. All are detailed by energy source.
• Demand Indicators: Historical data including consumption per inhabitant, consumption trends, total consumption by energy source, final consumption by energy source and sector, and electricity consumption by sector.
• Energy Balances: Single table displaying the overall energy industry balance per annum, also graphically displayed by energy sub-segment.
• Infrastructure Projects: Covers power plant projects by energy, technology, status and operator.

The Saudi Arabia country dashboards are complemented with country forecasts from EnerFuture (excel file) with scenario comparison.

Data included in the excelsheet:

• Demand: Primary energy consumption, final energy consumption, by fuel, by sector.
• Power: Electricity generation & capacities, by technology.
• CO₂: Total CO₂ emissions.
• Macro-economy: Main macro-economic assumptions.
• Key indicators: Energy intensity, share of renewables, CO₂ emissions per capita and per unit of GDP.