Saudi Aramco awards $15.5bn pipeline deal

A group led by BlackRock agreed to invest $15.5bn in Saudi Arabian Oil’s natural gas pipelines as the world’s largest crude exporter looks to fund a massive increase in production capacity.

The group will buy a 49 per cent stake in Aramco Gas Pipelines, a newly formed entity that holds 20-year leasing rights for Aramco’s network of pipelines that ship gas across the country, the oil producer said in an emailed statement Monday. Saudi Arabia’s Hassana Investment will co-lead the consortium of investors alongside BlackRock Real Assets.

The deal is part of Saudi Arabia’s drive to open up to more foreign investment and use the proceeds to diversify its economy while also increasing output of both oil and gas. Aramco sold a $12.4bn stake in a similarly structured deal related to its oil pipelines to a consortium including EIG in April.

The OPEC kingpin is also considering allowing foreign investment in its unconventional gas fields as it looks to fund a $100bn plan to help the kingdom become one of the world’s largest producers of the fuel, people familiar with the plan told Bloomberg in September.

Aramco is already spending billions of dollars to raise its daily crude capacity to 13 million barrels by 2027, from 12 million currently.

Aramco Gas will receive a tariff from Aramco for the gas products that will flow through its network, backed by minimum shipment commitments. Aramco will retain a 51 per cent majority stake.