Saudi Aramco Unveils Standalone Gas Division to Unlock Export Potential

Saudi Aramco's decision to establish a standalone gas division is a strategic move to raise project finance, sell minority equity, and pursue LNG deals without putting its core oil assets at risk. This separation will allow Aramco to isolate its gas assets, making it easier to measure, fund, and market them as a business rather than a byproduct of oil production.

The Jafurah unconventional field is the centerpiece of this plan, covering 17,000 square kilometers and estimated to hold 229 trillion standard cubic feet of raw gas and 75 billion stock tank barrels of condensate. By 2030, Aramco aims to generate electricity equivalent to displacing 500,000 barrels per day of crude from Jafurah alone.

With a standalone gas division, Aramco can measure the incremental operating cash flow from its expansion plans, estimated at $12 billion to $15 billion in 2030. This revenue will not only fund Vision 2030 but also provide dividends and finance the next increment of gas infrastructure.