Saudi Energy Minister Prince Abdulaziz bin Salman says that the weekend’s attack on two critical oil production facilities (MEES, 20 September) which also knocked out some 2bn cfd of gas production has had no impact on electricity provision. “I would like to emphasize that the facilities sector, including electricity generation and water desalination, has not been affected at all from the disruption of gas supply.”
This was achieved through utilizing reserves and displacing gas with alternative fuels – essentially burning liquids instead. Saudi Arabia has inadequate gas supplies at the best of times, and the latest statistics from Jodi show that in July the kingdom burned 524,000 b/d crude oil and 589,000 b/d fuel oil (see data, MEES, 20 September). Some power will have been generated through burning diesel as well. (CONTINUED - 324 WORDS)
