G20 Scorecard of Fossil Fuel Funding Non-OECD Member Country Saudi Arabia

This fact sheet evaluates the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia's funding of fossil fuels, ranking it 8th (lowest) among G20 non-OECD member countries. The report highlights significant support through state-owned enterprise (SOE) investments and low energy prices, while noting a lack of transparency regarding direct budgetary transfers.

• Saudi Arabia is ranked lowest among G20 non-OECD member countries due to its ongoing support for fossil fuel-based power and oil and gas production. This support is primarily driven by large capital expenditure from state-owned enterprises (SOEs) and the maintenance of low energy prices for consumers.
• Between 2017 and 2019, the average annual government support for fossil fuels in Saudi Arabia totaled USD 77 billion. This figure includes USD 41 billion in SOE investments, USD 35.4 billion in induced transfers, and USD 600 million in public finance.
• Specific annual support averages from 2017 to 2019 include USD 33 billion for oil and gas exploration, production, refining, and transportation, and USD 17 billion for fossil fuel-based power. Within the power sector, the Saudi Electric Company invested USD 8.2 billion annually.
• While Saudi Arabia introduced energy subsidy reforms in 2016 and 2018 as part of 'Vision 2030', domestic prices remained significantly lower than international benchmarks in 2018; gasoline (91 Octane) and diesel were 55% and 18% of international prices, respectively.
• Transparency regarding fossil fuel support is considered low, as there is limited public information on tax expenditures or direct budgetary transfers. Consequently, the report suggests that support for fossil fuel-based power and oil and gas is likely underestimated.

APA

Mostafa, M. (2020). G20 Scorecard of Fossil Fuel Funding Non-OECD Member Country Saudi Arabia. International Institute for Sustainable Development. https://www.iisd.org/system/files/2020-11/g20-scorecard-saudi-arabia.pdf

Chicago

Mostafa, Mostafa. G20 Scorecard of Fossil Fuel Funding Non-OECD Member Country Saudi Arabia. International Institute for Sustainable Development, 2020. https://www.iisd.org/system/files/2020-11/g20-scorecard-saudi-arabia.pdf.

Wikipedia

{{cite report |last1=Mostafa |first1=Mostafa |title=G20 Scorecard of Fossil Fuel Funding Non-OECD Member Country Saudi Arabia |publisher=International Institute for Sustainable Development |date=2020 |url=https://www.iisd.org/system/files/2020-11/g20-scorecard-saudi-arabia.pdf |access-date=17 August 2026 |via=Climate Insights Directory}}

BibTeX

@techreport{mostafa2020g20, author = {Mostafa, Mostafa}, title = {{G20 Scorecard of Fossil Fuel Funding Non-OECD Member Country Saudi Arabia}}, institution = {International Institute for Sustainable Development}, year = {2020}, url = {https://www.iisd.org/system/files/2020-11/g20-scorecard-saudi-arabia.pdf}, urldate = {2026-08-17}, note = {Indexed by Climate Insights Directory} }