Carbon Capture in Saudi Arabia: CCS, CCUS, and the Low-Carbon Hydrocarbon Strategy

Sun, 22 Feb 2026 00:00:00 +0000

Overview

Saudi Arabia’s investment in carbon capture, utilisation, and storage represents a strategic wager that hydrocarbons can remain part of the global energy system in a carbon-constrained world — provided their emissions are managed effectively. The Kingdom is pursuing one of the most ambitious CCUS agendas among hydrocarbon-producing nations, with a target to capture and store or utilise 44 million tonnes of CO2 annually by 2035. This initiative is not motivated by altruism alone; it is a defence of the Kingdom’s core economic asset. If Saudi Arabia can demonstrate that oil and gas can be produced, processed, and consumed with dramatically reduced carbon emissions, it strengthens the long-term demand outlook for hydrocarbons and protects the value of reserves worth trillions of dollars.

Gap Alert: Net Zero 2060 Trajectory Assessment

Sun, 22 Feb 2026 00:00:00 +0000

Saudi Arabia Net Zero 2060 Gap: Vision 2030 KPI Tracker

This Saudi Arabia net zero 2060 gap tracker measures the emissions, renewables and carbon-capture trajectory needed to connect Vision 2030 climate KPIs with the Kingdom’s 2060 net zero pledge.

Metric	Value
Current Value	~650 MtCO2e annual emissions
2060 Target	Net zero emissions
Gap	~650 MtCO2e (gross)
Required Annual Rate	~19 MtCO2e reduction per year
Years Remaining	34 (to 2060)
Risk Level	Medium (long-term trajectory)

Analysis

Saudi Arabia’s commitment to achieving net zero greenhouse gas emissions by 2060, announced at COP26 in November 2021 under the Saudi Green Initiative, represents a defining long-term challenge for a nation whose economy, energy system, and fiscal model are built on hydrocarbon production and consumption. Current annual emissions are estimated at approximately 650 million tonnes of CO2 equivalent, placing Saudi Arabia among the world’s top 15 emitters. While the 2060 target provides a longer runway than the 2050 commitments of many Western nations, the transformation required is no less fundamental.

Carbon-Capture on SAUDI VISION 2030 Intelligence Platform

Carbon Capture in Saudi Arabia: CCS, CCUS, and the Low-Carbon Hydrocarbon Strategy

Overview

Gap Alert: Net Zero 2060 Trajectory Assessment

Saudi Arabia Net Zero 2060 Gap: Vision 2030 KPI Tracker

Analysis