Saudi Aramco plans to nearly double its gas production to 23 billion standard cubic ft per day (bscfd) in the next decade, its chief executive said. "The kingdom has managed to increase gas production from 3.5 bscfd in 1982 to more than 12 bscfd now and this figure is expected to double to around 23 bscfd during the coming decade," Amin Nasser told a conference. "Work is under way to execute an ambitious plan to implement this during the coming 10 years," he said, without detailing the plan. Saudi Aramco has embarked on a massive programme to boost gas output for electricity and petrochemical production by developing gas fields not associated with oil production.