Saudi Arabia has revealed plans to use shale gas for power generation in an attempt to save more of its crude oil for exports

Saudi Aramco CEO Khalid Al-Falih said recently, “We are ready to start producing our own shale gas and unconventional resources in various types in the next few years and deliver them to consumers.

“Only two years after launching our own unconventional gas programme in the northern region of Saudi Arabia, we are ready to commit gas for the development of a 1,000MW power plant which will feed a massive phosphate mining and manufacturing sector.”

By unlocking its gas reserves, Saudi Arabia could use the fuel to power its domestic economy and allow more room for oil sales to world markets.

Petroleum and mineral resources minister Ali Al-Naimi has given an estimate of more than 600 trillion cubic feet (cu ft) of unconventional gas reserves, more than double its proven conventional reserves.