Aramco is minimising the environmental footprint of its operations through investments in biodiversity protection, advanced water stewardship, air quality measures, and circular economy practices

Balancing the world’s energy needs with the urgency of protecting fragile ecosystems is one of the defining challenges of the 21st century.

Saudi Aramco is positioning its operations within this complex space by placing biodiversity, water stewardship, emissions control, and circularity at the centre of its environmental management strategy.

With a stated ambition to create a 'net positive' impact on natural habitats and shared resources, Aramco is expanding its conservation portfolio, embracing advanced technologies, and aligning its efforts with Saudi Arabia’s Vision 2030 and global frameworks such as the Kunming-Montreal Global Biodiversity Framework.

Aramco has expanded its biodiversity protection areas (BPAs) from 14 in 2023 to 28 in 2024, covering some 1,900 sq km.

These areas now host 844 documented species of plants and animals, including 386 plant species, 300 birds, and 46 mammals.

Protected zones include wetlands, coastal lagoons, and significant new areas such as Jana Island in the Arabian Gulf and Asfar Lake in Al Hasa National Park.

At Shaybah Wildlife Sanctuary, Aramco has supported the reintroduction of Arabian oryx, sand gazelles, and red-necked ostriches, marking progress in national rewilding efforts.

Meanwhile, the 31 sq km Abha BPA in the Asir highlands has been developed as a habitat for the Nubian ibex and other endemic species.

In 2024 alone, Aramco supported the planting of 185,000 native trees and launched a botanical range mapping project in collaboration with King Abdullah University of Science and Technology (KAUST), identifying priority areas for conservation.

Marine protection is another focus area. Aramco supports coral reef monitoring through the Saudi Aramco-KAUST Marine Environment Observations Centre, which has produced predictive models to assess oil spill risks and published new research on coral bleaching and reef fish diversity.

In parallel, its Abu Ali Fish Hatchery is pioneering aquaculture-based biodiversity restoration, aiming to produce and release juvenile native species into the Arabian Gulf by late 2025.

Through its biodiversity mitigation hierarchy, which includes avoid, minimise, restore and offset, Aramco aspires to achieve net positive impact for biodiversity by 2030.

In 2024, it reached an interim net positive impact score of 91 per cent, with the target set at 95 per cent by 2025.

WATER, EMISSIONS & CIRCULAR ECONOMY

Operating in one of the driest regions of the world, Aramco recognises the critical importance of water stewardship.

Its Qurayyah Seawater Plant, among the largest facilities of its kind globally, treats and injects 2.2 million cu m of seawater per day into reservoirs to maintain oilfield pressure, saving groundwater supplies equivalent to the Kingdom’s entire industrial sector demand.

In drilling operations, 449 wells were completed in 2024 using closed-loop systems that cut groundwater use by 4.4 million cu m.

Digital monitoring platforms such as AquaSight and leak detection tools at Khursaniyah and Haradh gas plants have further reduced freshwater withdrawals, contributing to an overall 7.7 per cent decline in freshwater consumption in 2024.

Zero liquid discharge (ZLD) technology, recognised internationally, has been deployed to reuse wastewater in hydraulic fracturing operations.

Air emissions control has also advanced. Sulphur oxides (SOx) emissions decreased in 2024 thanks to upgraded sulphur recovery units with tail gas treatment.

Nitrogen oxides (NOx) are being tackled through ultra-low NOx burners, partial nitrogen purging in flaring systems, and electrification of methane recovery units.

In addition, new double Gasoline Particulate Filter (dGPF) technology, co-developed with a European automaker, is undergoing real-world tests to reduce vehicle tailpipe emissions below ambient particulate levels.

Circular economy principles underpin much of this environmental strategy. More than 300 initiatives were implemented in 2024, ranging from recycling 21,000 tonnes of pipeline material to reusing drilling mud across rigs, saving an estimated $816 million.

Innovative projects include producing quiet, long-life roads from waste tyres and plastics in partnership with SABIC, and recovering hydrocarbons from oily waste through advanced separation technologies. The company also increased recycling rates of industrial waste to nearly 48 per cent.

A WIDER GLOBAL ROLE

Aramco’s environmental programmes contribute directly to the Kingdom’s Vision 2030, the Saudi Green Initiative (SGI), and UN Sustainable Development Goals, particularly those relating to clean water, responsible consumption, and life on land and below water.

Collaborations with institutions such as KAUST, King Fahd University of Petroleum and Minerals, and international groups like the World Economic Forum and Ipieca support the spread of best practices.

From restoring coral reefs and wetlands to investing in nature-based solutions like mangroves and biochar-enhanced soils, Aramco’s efforts are increasingly aligned with international biodiversity and climate goals.

While challenges remain, particularly given the scale of its hydrocarbon operations, the company is broadening its environmental programmes to create tangible gains for ecosystems and communities alike.

By Abdulaziz Khattak