The Saudi Electricity Sector: Pressing Issues and Challenges
With 266 billion barrels of proved oil reserves (16% of world total), Saudi Arabia holds the world's largest (conventional) crude oil reserves, was the largest exporter of total petroleum liquids in 2013, and the second largest petroleum liquids producer behind the United States[1].
The Kingdom has the lion share of the global oil production spare capacity, which proved to be crucial for the oil market stability on many occasions in the past, allowing Saudi Arabia to replace missing barrels from any other oil producer in the world. In the same manner, Saudi Arabia’s decision last November not to step-in and reverse the oil price decline thus, abandoning its historical role as a “swing producer,” revived the old debate on the use of oil as a “political weapon” on the international energy scene.
In addition to its well-known predominant role in the oil markets and in the Organization of Petroleum Exporting Countries (OPEC), several other features make the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia a major player in the world economy and global geopolitics...
[1] According to BP (2014).
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The Saudi Electricity Sector: Pressing Issues and Challenges
Marie-Claire AOUN
Directrice du Centre Énergie de l'Ifri (2014-2017)
Center for Energy & Climate
Ifri's Energy and Climate Center carries out activities and research on the geopolitical and geoeconomic issues of energy transitions such as energy security, competitiveness, control of value chains, and acceptability. Specialized in the study of European energy/climate policies as well as energy markets in Europe and around the world, its work also focuses on the energy and climate strategies of major powers such as the United States, China or India. It offers recognized expertise, enriched by international collaborations and events, particularly in Paris and Brussels.
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