Letter from Saudi Arabia: Oil and the materials transition

As the global economy grows, demand for materials is expected to increase. The way materials are made could incorporate new technologies in the future to ensure economic growth is more sustainable

The energy transition involves a gradual reduction of greenhouse gas emissions where the oil and gas sector, supported by technological innovations, is expected to contribute by developing solutions towards such reduction ambitions. Yet one area may require special focus: finding optimal material solutions with lower carbon emissions in high volume applications. At Aramco, we support a pragmatic, balanced and action-led global energy transition that involves a concurrent ‘materials transition’. The global population is forecast to reach 10b by 2060, and global GDP is likely to increase fourfold, according to the OECD, which could signify a consumption increase in energy, fuel and materials f