Saudi Arabia Looks to Solar, Nuclear Power to Reduce Its Oil Use by Half

Persian Gulf oil producers are seeking new ways to generate power because they prefer exporting valuable crude to maximize income and allocating natural gas to make petrochemicals. Energy other than oil, gas and other fossil fuels may account for more than half of the kingdom’s supply by 2030, Al Sulaiman said. Future sources will include solar and wind power as well as nuclear plants, according to the plan, which needs government approval to become policy. The expansion into renewables and nuclear power will be part of a $100 billion spending drive aimed at meeting the expected jump in demand and curbing dependence on crude, government officials said last week at a conference in Abu Dhabi, the capital of the neighboring United Arab Emirates.