Saudi Aramco to split gas business to prepare for hydrogen future: Bloomberg

Aramco’s gas production reached a record 10.7 billion standard cubic feet a day in August last year, according to the company’s 2020 annual report. (Reuters)
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Updated 11 September 2021
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Saudi Aramco to split gas business to prepare for hydrogen future: Bloomberg

  • The two new divisions will be called Southern Area Gas Operations and Northern Area Gas Operations

RIYADH: Saudi Aramco is to split its gas production division into two as it looks to make greater use of the fuel in power generation and the production of so-called blue hydrogen, Bloomberg reported, citing unnamed people familiar with the plans.

Saudi Aramco declined to comment to Bloomberg.

The two new divisions will be called Southern Area Gas Operations and Northern Area Gas Operations, and will be run by Wail Al Jaafari and Jumaan Al Zahrani, the people said.

Saudi Arabia is looking to convert its power stations to natural gas, allowing it to divert as much as 1 million barrels of crude oil a day for export, Bloomberg said.

The Kingdom is also preparing for growth in demand for blue hydrogen, which is created from natural gas while capturing the emissions.

Aramco’s gas production reached a record 10.7 billion standard cubic feet a day in August last year, according to the company’s 2020 annual report, Bloomberg said.


Closing Bell: Saudi main index rises to 10,894

Updated 13 January 2026
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Closing Bell: Saudi main index rises to 10,894

RIYADH: Saudi Arabia’s Tadawul All Share Index extended its upward trend for a third consecutive day this week, gaining 148.18 points, or 1.38 percent, to close at 10,893.63 on Tuesday. 

The total trading turnover of the benchmark index stood at SR6.05 billion ($1.61 billion), with 144 listed stocks advancing and 107 declining. 

The Kingdom’s parallel market Nomu also rose by 81.35 points to close at 23,668.29. 

The MSCI Tadawul Index edged up 1.71 percent to 1,460.89. 

The best-performing stock on the main market was Zahrat Al Waha for Trading Co., with its share price advancing 10 percent to SR2.75. 

Shares of CHUBB Arabia Cooperative Insurance Co. increased 8.27 percent to SR23.04, while Abdullah Saad Mohammed Abo Moati for Bookstores Co. saw its stock climb 6.17 percent to SR50.60. 

Conversely, the share price of Naseej International Trading Co. declined 9.90 percent to SR31.48. 

On the announcements front, Arabian Drilling Co. said it secured three contract extensions for land rigs with energy giant Saudi Aramco, totaling SR1.4 billion and adding 25 active rig years to its backlog. 

In a Tadawul statement, the company said one rig is currently operational, the second will begin operations by the end of January, and the third — currently suspended — is expected to resume operations in 2026. 

Since November 2025, Arabian Drilling has secured seven contract extensions amounting to SR3.4 billion, representing 55 committed rig years. 

The three contracts have durations of 10 years, 10 years, and five years, respectively.

“Securing a total of SR1.4 billion in new contracts and expanding our backlog by 25 rig-years demonstrates both the trust our clients place in us and our ability to consistently deliver quality and reliability,” said Ghassan Mirdad, CEO of Arabian Drilling, in a statement. 

Shares of Arabian Drilling Co. rose 3.15 percent to SR104.70. 

Separately, Alkhorayef Water and Power Technologies Co. said it signed a 36-month contract valued at SR43.35 million with National Water Co. to operate and maintain water networks, pumping stations, wells, reservoirs, and related facilities in Tabuk. 

In October, Alkhorayef Water and Power Technologies Co. announced it had been awarded the contract by NWC. 

In a Tadawul statement, the company said the financial impact of the deal began in the fourth quarter of 2025. 

The share price of Alkhorayef Water and Power Technologies Co. declined 0.49 percent to SR120.70.