Aramco advances gas goals with double asset startup

DHAHRAN, February 27, 2026 – Saudi Aramco announced on Wednesday the start of production at the Jafurah shale gas play and of operations at the Tanajib Gas Plant, advancing towards its goal of increasing production capacity and capturing up to USD 15 billion in incremental cashflow from gas sales.

The liquids-rich Jafurah shale asset is the largest of its kind in the Middle East, holding an estimated 6.48 tcm (229 tcf) of raw gas and 75 billion barrels of condensate. Aramco is aiming to deliver 56.6 mcm (2 bcf) of gas per day from the field by 2030, along with 11.9 mcm (420 mcf) of ethane and 630,000 barrels of liquids.

Aramco began producing unconventional shale gas at Jafurah in December 2025 and is reported to have sold cargoes of condensate to US majors Chevron and ExxonMobil in February 2026 for lifting in March. The company is targeting around 6 million boepd of gas and liquids output by 2030 to generate an incremental cashflow of about USD 12 billion-15 billion, based on current price projections.

Operations at the Tanajib Gas Plant also began in December 2025, with the facility expected to reach a processing capacity of 73.6 mcm (2.6 bcf) per day in 2026, utilising associated gas from the offshore Marjan and Zuluf oilfields.

“Jafurah and Tanajib significantly strengthen Aramco’s gas portfolio and expand our capacity at scale,” said Aramco president and CEO Amin H. Nasser. “Gas is central to our long-term growth strategy. It is expected to generate substantial earnings, meet rising domestic demand, support development across key sectors, and deliver significant volumes of high-value liquids.”

Aramco is aiming to increase its sales gas production capacity by 80% by 2030, relative to 2021 levels, to boost revenues and support the growth of Saudi Arabia’s petrochemicals sector, as well as of emerging industries such as data and AI infrastructure.

Photo courtesy of Saudi Aramco

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