Alternative Fuels and Processes for Saudi Construction Materials Companies

Producing construction materials requires a great amount of energy, and in Saudi Arabia, this production currently entails the use of substantial amounts of liquid fuels. Liquid fuels are mostly sold at below-market prices domestically, and thus result in large opportunity costs for the government. Saudi Arabia’s interests reside in displacing higher-value liquid fuels with more appropriate alternatives. The Saudi government plans to encourage the displacement of oil by reforming the below-market oil prices. Alternatives could include other fuels and more energy-efficient manufacturing processes. This paper investigates, the cost implications of switching existing fuels or processes for individual firms and the government.

Walid Matar

Principal Fellow- Oil & Gas Walid works on modeling energy systems. He is developing or has developed the following components of the KAPSARC Energy Model…

Walid works on modeling energy systems. He is developing or has developed the following components of the KAPSARC Energy Model (KEM): electric power generation, oil refining, petrochemicals and fertilizers, cement production, and iron and steel. He is also working on a bottom-up residential electricity use framework that merges microeconomics with the physical laws governing electricity use.

Expertise

Energy Systems Modeling
Optimization
Electricity Prices
Energy Efficiency and the Interdisciplinary Connection Between Energy Economics and Engineering

Publications See all Walid Matar’s publications

Does integrating oil refining with petrochemicals provide long-term benefits for Saudi Arabia?

Producing construction materials requires a great amount of energy, and in Saudi Arabia, this production…

25th March 2025