Saudi Aramco has commissioned the Tanajib gas plant in Saudi Arabia’s Eastern Province, adding 2.6 bcfd of raw gas processing capacity as part of its plan to expand sales gas output by 2030.
The startup, announced Feb. 26, follows initial production in late 2025 at the company’s Jafurah unconventional gas development.
Together, the production and processing projects mark a step change in the operator’s gas growth strategy, which targets an 80% increase in sales gas production capacity by 2030 compared with 2021 levels, Aramco said.
Plant overview
Formally commissioned in December 2025 and scheduled to reach full raw-gas processing capacity this year, the onshore Tanajib plant processes associated gas from offshore crude production at the Marjan and Zuluf fields.
Alongside gas treatment and processing as well as NGL recovery and fractionation, Aramco said the plant also features digital integration and advanced process controls intended to improve operational efficiency and resource utilization.
Startup of Tanajib coincided with first production from the Marjan crude oil increment, aligning additional upstream capacity with expanded gas handling and liquids recovery infrastructure.
Combined with Jafurah Phase 1, the Tanajib plant is projected to add about 1.3 bcfd of sales gas capacity, according to the operator.
Jafurah shale gas
Production of first unconventional shale gas at Jafurah field also began in December 2025, Aramco said.
Covering about 17,000 sq km in the Eastern Province, Jafurah is estimated to contain 229 tcf of raw gas and 75 billion stb of condensate.
By 2030, Aramco anticipates the field will produce:
- 2 bcfd of sales gas.
- 420 MMcfd of ethane.
- About 630,000 b/d of condensate and other high-value liquids.
With Phase 1 production now online, Phase 2 remains scheduled for startup from 2027, based on previous company disclosures.
Aramco previously said it expected total lifecycle investment at Jafurah to exceed $100 billion.
To support midstream development, Aramco in late 2025 finalized an agreement with a consortium led by BlackRock’s Global Infrastructure Partners, forming Jafurah Midstream Gas Co. The entity holds development and usage rights for Jafurah gas processing and NGL fractionation plants under a 20-year leaseback structure.
Gas-growth strategy, financial targets
Based on current estimates, Aramco said it expects total gas and associated liquids production resulting from its gas-growth strategy could reach about 6 million boe/d by the decade’s end.
The expanded gas portfolio could generate incremental operating cash flow of $12-15 billion in 2030, subject to sales gas demand and liquids pricing, according to the operator.
The gas expansion program also includes Phase 3 of the Master Gas System, designed to increase network capacity by 3.15 bcfd by 2028 through installation of about 4,000 km of pipelines and 17 compression trains.
Designed to meet rising domestic demand, support industrial growth, and displace liquid fuels in power generation, Aramco said its growth strategy aligns with Saudi Arabia’s objective to diversify its energy mix and strengthen long-term gas supply security.
