JSPES, Vol. 37, No. 2 (Summer 2012)
pp. 181-198

Will Saudi Arabia Face an Energy Crisis?

Gawdat Bahgat

National Defense University, Washington D.C.

Saudi Arabia holds the world’ s largest proven oil reserves and the fourth-largest natural gas reserves. Despite these massive hydrocarbon deposits, the kingdom has launched ambitious plans to build nuclear reactors and to utilize solar power. This essay examines the reasons behind these initiatives and the efforts to establish the necessary technological infrastructure to implement them. This article argues that developing alternative energy resources is not enough to improve the nation’s energy outlook, and that the Saudi authority needs to address the alarming surge in domestic consumption.