Saudi Arabia
Introduction
Saudi Arabia joined the Global Methane Initiative (GMI) in 2014 and provides continuous support as a member of the Steering Committee and the Oil & Gas Subcommittee.
As a key player in global climate initiatives, Saudi Arabia has implemented a number of strategies to mitigate methane emissions and achieve national and international climate commitments. These efforts are focused particularly on the oil & gas sector, where Saudi Arabia has made substantial investments in advancing technology for methane detection and monitoring, and promotion of best practices for emissions management. Additionally, Saudi Arabia is an active participant in international collaboration efforts to leverage global resources and achieve climate solutions.
Saudi Arabia is currently active on the Steering Committee, and the Oil & Gas Subcommittee.
- Introduction
- Methane Emissions Summary
- Methane Commitments and Plans
- Methane Actions
- Ministries and Agencies Supporting Methane Actions
- GMI Delegates
Last Updated: November 2024
Methane Emissions Summary
In 2019, Saudi Arabia’s sectoral methane emissions contributions were 71.68% from the waste sector, 15.12% from the energy sector, 6.67% from the industrial sector, and 6.53% from the agriculture subsector.
Methane Emissions Inventory, 2019 (Biennal Updated Report 2)
| Source and Sink Categories | Methane Emissions (tons) | Percentage of Total |
| Waste | 1,374,657.31 | 71.68% |
| Solid waste disposal on land | 609,508.90 | 31.78% |
| Solid waste composting | 1,793.1 | 0.13% |
| Wastewater handling | 92,754.87 | 4.84% |
| Industrial wastewater | 670,600.48 | 34.97% |
| Energy | 290,025.65 | 15.12% |
| Agriculture (Subsector) | 125,160.57 | 6.52% |
| Enteric fermentation | 114,959.90 | 5.99% |
| Manure management | 9332.6 | 7.46% |
| Field burning of agricultural residues | 868.1 | 0.69% |
| Industrial Processes and Product Use | 127,894.8 | 6.67% |
| Total | 1,917,738.38 |
Methane Emissions by Source, 2019
Methane Emissions from the Energy Sector, 2019
Methane Emissions from the Waste Sector, 2019
Methane Emissions from the Agriculture Subsector, 2019
Sources: Fourth National Communication, Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, March 2022. https://unfccc.int/sites/default/files/resource/7123846_Saudi%20Arabia-NC4-1-Fourth%20National%20Communication%20NC4%20Kingdom%20of%20Saudi%20Arabia%20March%202022.pdf
Kingdom of Saudi Arabia March 2022.pdf (unfccc.int) Kingdom of Saudi Arabia Second Biennial Update Report, March 2024. https://unfccc.int/sites/default/files/resource/Kingdom%20of%20Saudi%20Arabia%C2%A0Bur2.pdf
Methane Commitments and Plans
National
- The 2022 Fourth National Communication from the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia outlines the country’s commitment to addressing climate change, including several methane mitigation goals and alignment with international climate initiatives.
- Saudi Arabia published its 2021 Updated Nationally Determined Contribution (NDC) that outlines the actions, projects, and plans to reduce greenhouse gas emissions by 278 million tons of carbon dioxide equivalent (CO2e) annually by 2030.
- Saudi Green Initiative, an initiative launched in 2021, involves several initiatives. One of these initiatives is to reduce methane emissions by 30% by 2030 in line with the Global Methane Pledge.
International
- Saudi Arabia joined the European Union to launch the Global Methane Pledge (GMP) in 2021 at the United Nations (UN) Climate Change Conference (COP26).
- Saudi Arabia is a member of the Clean Energy Ministerial, a global forum that promotes and advances clean energy technology.
- Saudi Arabia launched the Middle East Green Initiative (MGI) in 2021 to promote climate initiatives across the region to reduce GHG emissions (including methane).
- One of the initiatives under the MGI is the Circular Carbon Economy Regional Collaboration (CCERC) Initiative, which is a platform for all MENA countries to support each other to achieve their climate ambitions. CCERC focuses on several pillars including capacity building. To promote capacity building in methane emission abatement in the MENA region, Saudi Arabia has organized a free training session to all MENA countries in collaboration with UNEP and Carbon Limit in 2024. The training was held online and it was an example of the regional methane related activities under CCERC.
- Saudi Arabia is a member of Mission Innovation, a global climate initiative launched in 2021 to support investment in research and development of clean energy.
- Saudi Arabia is an establishing member of the 2021 Net-Zero Producers Forum (NPF), a cooperative forum dedicated to developing comprehensive net-zero emissions strategies, including methane abatement measures. Saudi Arabia is involved in the Methane Track under NZP.
- Saudi Arabia committed to the World Bank Group’s Zero Routine Flaring by 2030 Initiative in 2018.
- Saudi Arabia signed the United Nations Paris Agreement in 2016.
Methane Actions
The following highlights actions taken by Saudi Arabia to address methane, organized by GMI sector.
Oil & Gas Sector
- The master gas system was built in the 1970s to capture and reuse gas, which eliminated associated gas routine flaring.
- Several flare gas recovery systems (FGRS) were installed to minimize gas flaring.
- Saudi Arabia partnered with the COP 28 Presidency to launch the Oil and Gas Decarbonization Charter with the goal of speeding up climate action and achieving zero-out methane emissions. (December 2023)
- The Oil Sustainability Program’s goal is to increase opportunities and applications for the use of hydrocarbons as a clean energy source. (2020)
- The Leak Detection and Repair program, launched in 2018, was implemented in all oil and gas operating facilities to address methane leaks. (2018). In addition to LDAR, detection solutions and technologies such as the use of satellite monitoring, drones, and unmanned aerial vehicles are being assessed and deployed.
- The national oil and gas company, Saudi Aramco, has met the OGCI’s 2025 target of methane intensity well ahead of schedule. (Note: this figure has undergone/is undergoing external limited assurance in accordance to the ISAE 3000.)
- Aside from the slight increase in 2023 (primarily due to increased maintenance and operational activities, as well as the inclusion of the Jazan Refinery’s stabilized units in the 2023 GHG emission inventory and flaring metrics reporting), flaring intensity has been decreasing.
Cross-Sector
- Saudi Arabia’s Greenhouse Gas Crediting and Offsetting Mechanism (GCOM) supports national efforts across sectors to reduce and remove greenhouse gas emissions and drive progress towards a path to net zero emissions by allowing interested companies and entities to offset their greenhouse gas emissions, including methane, by purchasing credits and/or certificates from project proponents that voluntarily reduce or remove greenhouse gas emissions. (2023)
- In 2020, Saudi Arabia launched the Circular Carbon Economy approach to achieve net-zero by 2060. (2020)
- Saudi Arabia plans to increase renewable energy share to account for up to 50% of the total generated electricity in Saudi Arabia by 2030.(2017)
- Saudi Energy Efficiency Program coordinates nationwide energy efficiency systems in all sectors. (2012)
Ministries and Agencies Supporting Methane Actions
Explore the following websites to learn more about the government ministries addressing greenhouse gas emissions and climate change in Saudi Arabia.
GMI Delegates
| Committee/Subcommittee | Delegate Name | Affiliation |
|---|---|---|
| Oil & Gas Subcommittee | Faisal Al Qurooni | Saudi Arabia Ministry of Energy |
| Steering Committee | Faisal Al Qurooni | Saudi Arabia Ministry of Energy |
| Steering Committee | Faisal Almusa | Saudi Arabia Ministry of Energy |