Saudi Aramco has completed the first phase of its Jafurah shale gas project, and production has begun at 450 mcf/d (4.6 bcm/year), according to Saudi Arabia’s finance ministry (Reuters, 03/12/2025). The project, worth about US$100bn, is expected to reach 2 bcf/d (21 bcm/year) by 2030, making it the largest shale gas development outside the United States. Jafurah contains an estimated 229 tcf (6 481 bcm) of gas.
The gas produced from Jafurah will be used mainly for domestic power generation, allowing Saudi Arabia to free up crude oil currently used for power to increase exports. At full capacity, the project could offset up to 500,000 bbl/d (25 Mt/year) in the power sector.
Saudi Arabia produced 108 bcm of natural gas in 2024, according to Enerdata’s Global Energy Research. The production is exclusively consumed domestically, with about the two thirds for power generation. Gas accounted for 55% of power generation in 2024, followed by oil (44%).