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A look back on Saudi fossil fuel subsidy in the last decade
In 2009, G20 member states agreed to phase out subsidies on fossil fuels "in the medium term". This article describes the efforts made by one those states, Saudi Arabia, in that regard.
As the table below shows, Saudi Arabia has reduced its oil and electricity subsidies since 2009, but the natural gas subsidy has grown at a faster rate. Thus, the total real fossil fuel subsidy has went up since 2009. However, the share of fossil fuel subsidy in real economic output has decreased from nearly 11% in 2009 to around 8% in 2019.
Oil and gas are still being offered to utilities and industry at below market values, but some challenges stymie further energy price changes. Even with price-induced energy efficiency investment, the competitiveness of local industries is a major issue. For petrochemicals and fertilizers, rising natural gas production in the United States, and thus lower ethane and natural gas prices, is a concern for local policy makers. The regional competitiveness of the cement, aluminum, and steel industries has also garnered attention. Another issue to overcome is that of public acceptance without expanding government transfers. Especially in the cases of cost-reflective electricity pricing and incorporating externality costs in the prices of transport fuels.
However, mitigating circumstances are expected over the next ten years: One, the kingdom is planning to boost its natural gas production. Two, the costs of alternative energy technologies will likely continue to fall. Matar and Shabaneh (2019) show that the domestic market-clearing, or unsubsidized, price for natural gas would fall considerably by the end of this decade with the higher domestic supply. A lower market-clearing price for natural gas, coupled with lower alternative technology costs, would allow the government to lift the remaining oil subsidy with more ease relative to the status quo. At that point, all oil and natural gas subsidies could be removed.
Matar, Walid, and Rami Shabaneh. Viability of Seasonal Natural Gas Storage in the Saudi Energy System. KAPSARC Discussion Paper KS—2019-DP78. 2019.
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