Although being well-known as one of the world’s largest oil producers and exporters, Saudi Arabia is making a huge commitment to developing a low-carbon energy sector, planning to boost its renewable energy percentage to 50%, and swapping any remaining oil use for natural gas. As part of the plan, the Saudi energy minister recently announced that the country will inject $270 billion into various low-carbon projects before 2030 to boost the clean energy sector.

“We are determined to be the leading exporter of hydrogen, as well as to provide clean hydrogen for local uses in heavy industries to produce green products such as green steel, green aluminum, fertilizers, and others at competitive prices,” says Saudi Arabia’s Minister of Energy, Abdulaziz bin Salman Al Saud.

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Bin Salman’s comments came while attending the in-Kingdom Total Value Add Forum and Exhibition. The announcement reinforces the kingdom’s commitments at COP27, with Saudi Arabia aiming to be an electricity exporter and expanding its transmission and distribution network.

As part of the greater Saudi Green Initiative, emissions across the region will drop by more than 270 million tons of carbon dioxide while employing a circular carbon economy approach.