Why natural gas can help secure the Middle East’s long-term energy future

When Iran’s parliament voted in June 2025 to consider closing the Strait of Hormuz - one of the world’s most critical energy arteries - the energy industry took notice. Close to 20% of all global oil and liquified natural gas (LNG) pass through this narrow sea strait, flanked by Iran, Oman and the United Arab Emirates (UAE), connecting the Persian Gulf to the Arabian Sea and Indian Ocean. The mere threat of disruption of this vital maritime trade route, depended upon by Saudi Arabia, Qatar, Bahrain, Kuwait, Iraq and others, alarmed global financial and energy markets, slowed tanker traffic, and forced energy insurers to raise premiums.

This moment served as an important reminder for energy decision-makers across the Middle East that energy security should not depend on one strategic waterway or the outcome of a geopolitical event.

It’s time to rethink the architecture of our energy systems - not just to weather current geopolitical volatility, but also to build long-term resilience, stability, and sustainability. I believe natural gas, when used domestically or regionally via pipelines, can help mitigate geopolitical vulnerabilities. We must act now to adopt localisation strategies for natural gas, powered by innovation, to ensure a secure, lower-carbon future for this key global region.

As I said at the recent World Utilities Congress, there is a strong case to be made for gas – so let’s discuss the key points.

Gas is security

Natural gas offers a pragmatic and immediate path to energy sovereignty. Unlike oil, which is largely exported and shipped, gas lends itself to localised, onshore infrastructure. Gas-to-power projects reduce dependency on maritime supply chains, lower exposure to international price shocks, and strengthen domestic grid reliability. To achieve energy security, reliable, dispatchable capacity is essential – and this is where gas-fired power plants play a critical role.

In an age where threats to physical infrastructure and supply chains are no longer theoretical, this matters. Power systems built on domestically available and regionally piped gas are more secure by design.

Gas is sustainable

We must not buy into the false narrative that natural gas, which is a fossil fuel, and decarbonisation, are incompatible. According to research by Harvard, replacing oil or coal-fired generation with gas can cut carbon emissions by up to 60%.

In Saudi Arabia, we are supporting the transition from oil to gas through several major projects, including the 4 GW Taiba 2 and Qassim 2, and the 3.6 GW Rumah 2 and Nairyah 2 gas plants. These plants will replace ageing oil-fired stations and add 7.6 GW of capacity, enough to power over 2.5 million homes. The plants are also designed to be compatible with advanced carbon capture and storage technologies (CCUS), supporting Saudi Arabia’s long-term decarbonisation goals. These power stations are designed not only for efficiency and reduced emissions, but are also hydrogen-ready, ensuring future flexibility as the energy mix evolves and we progress towards meeting our global emissions targets.

What this proves is that gas is a logical component of the energy transition in this region. It is cleaner than legacy fuels, available at scale, and ideally suited for integration into renewable energy systems.

Gas is smart

Modern gas infrastructure is not just cleaner, it’s also smarter. In a few of our use cases, we have deployed digital technologies that optimise plant operations and reduce emissions. For example, the AI-based Plant Intelligent Controller, installed at Dubai’s Jebel Ali M Station, has already cut fuel consumption and CO₂ emissions by over 50,000 tons annually.

HL-class turbines with hydrogen blends of up to 75% are also engineering a cleaner gas future. The goal is to standardise the use of turbines that can run on 100% hydrogen by 2030.

Looking at the big picture and beyond just technical resilience, modernising electrical grids through smart technology is a key economic enabler. Smarter, more efficient grids facilitate regional energy trade, allowing utilities to export surplus renewable power to high-demand areas. It also supports industrial electrification – from Electric Vehicle (EV) charging networks to green hydrogen production – driving economic diversification, job creation, and long-term sustainability.

Gas is the way forward for utilities

For utilities, the way forward requires a balanced approach: maximising renewables where feasible, transitioning from coal and oil to high-efficiency gas, and integrating hydrogen and Carbon Capture Utilisation and Storage (CCUS). By investing in flexible, future-ready infrastructure, utilities can build a resilient, low-carbon energy supply that supports growing demand while advancing national decarbonisation goals.

As utilities in the Middle East and around the world integrate more renewables, grid flexibility becomes a critical challenge. Unlike traditional power plants, solar and wind generation fluctuate, requiring advanced, digitalised and gas-powered grids to balance supply and demand in real-time.

The best way to support this transition is to deploy high-voltage direct current (HVDC) transmission systems, flexible AC transmission systems (FACTS), gas-insulated switchgear (GIS), and digital control systems to ensure grids remain resilient, efficient, and future-ready. These technologies optimise real-time power flows, reduce energy losses, and enhance the grid’s ability to absorb intermittent renewable energy. Battery energy storage systems further strengthen grid stability, providing flexibility and ensuring a seamless integration of renewables.

Gas enables the grids of the future

Another false narrative to debunk is that natural gas competes with renewables. These forms of energy are complementary. Renewables are intermittent. Gas is dispatchable. Together, they create the flexible, reliable grids needed for decarbonisation at scale.

In parallel, technologies like High-Voltage Direct Current (HVDC) transmission, grid-forming inverters, battery storage, and digital control systems are enabling smarter, more resilient infrastructure across the region.

As countries like the UAE and Egypt invest in expanding gas pipelines and export capacity, we must ensure our infrastructure strategy is long-term, climate-aligned, and secure.

Time to choose energy independence through gas

Gas-fired power plants already account for about a quarter of global power generation, with demand expected to rise, according to the International Energy Agency (IEA). Growth of the sector is a natural forward path for the Middle East, especially now that the Strait of Hormuz will remain a strategic pressure point for years to come.

The energy sector does not need to be crippled by narrow vulnerabilities. By investing in gas-to-power, digital innovation, and decarbonisation-ready infrastructure, Middle Eastern governments can build the foundations of true energy independence.

In the past decade we have seen many examples of countries modernising their power systems quickly, cost-effectively, and sustainably. The solutions exist. What we need to recognise now is that natural gas is an excellent bridging solution to help us reach our long-term sustainability goals. When deployed strategically, it provides a foundation for energy resilience in the Middle East. Gas has a critical role to play in this volatile world, where we need to deal with current challenges without losing sight of the carbon-conscious energy future we need to build for ourselves and the next generation.