(Aug 16): Saudi Arabia is expected to put less money into the oil industry than initially predicted in its goal to invest US$1 trillion (RM4.43 trillion) in strategic sectors by the end of the decade. 

The Gulf kingdom will likely direct the majority of its funds, around 73% of total investments, into non-oil sectors by 2030, according to Goldman Sachs Group Inc, a shift from the bank’s earlier estimate of 66%. 

The increased allocation towards non-oil investments leaves only a quarter of the remaining funds for oil sectors, as the kingdom focuses on industries that enable its diversification including metals and minerals, transport and logistics, and digitalisation. 

Under Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman’s economic transformation plan Vision 2030, Saudi Arabia has opened up its economy to new avenues, investing in new sectors and rebranding the country’s image. A big goal in the vision is to reduce reliance on crude sales. 

Although capital expenditure in the oil sector is likely to shrink by US$40 billion between now and 2028, natural gas continues to be “a key contributor to the country’s decarbonisation, economic development, and diversification plans”, Faisal AlAzmeh, the head of CEEMEA equity research at Goldman, wrote in a report.

With Brent crude prices currently hovering around US$80 a barrel and with Saudi oil production down to around nine million barrels a day, the kingdom faces the rising threat of a widening budget deficit. 

The government’s oil earnings have dropped around one-third from 2022 levels, when oil prices averaged nearly US$100 a barrel. 

Saudi Arabia’s second-quarter budget shortfall came in at 15.3 billion riyals (US$4.1 billion or RM18.17 billion), showing just how reliant the government still is on hydrocarbon revenue. Authorities expect the budget to be in the red for at least several years. Goldman’s own research expects the deficit to widen to 4.3% of gross domestic product this year, up from 2% last year.

Still, progress in financing new sectors is picking up, with an uptick in renewable energy investments, according to Goldman’s research. Clean energy is seen receiving US$235 billion in funding, up from a previous estimate of US$148 billion, as the kingdom more than doubles its capacity target by the end of the decade.

Uploaded by Tham Yek Lee