BlackRock-led group set to invest in $10 billion Aramco Jafurah infrastructure deal

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By Hadeel Al Sayegh, Sarah McFarlane and Federico Maccioni Saudi Aramco TADAWUL:2223 is close to a deal to raise around $10 billion from a group led by BlackRock NYSE:BLK that has been set up to invest in the infrastructure of Aramco's Jafurah gas project, two people with knowledge of the matter told Reuters. The agreement would be the latest in a series of financial arrangements, akin to borrowing, that allow Gulf oil producing countries to raise money to diversify their economies while promising investors a stable revenue stream.The two people said the latest transaction was expected to be similarly structured to two Aramco infrastructure deals in 2021, including one in which BlackRock invested in Aramco's gas pipeline networks, allowing the Saudi company to generate funds. Aramco kept control of the underlying infrastructure while the investors earned tariffs from the oil firm for the use of the pipelines. Both sources spoke on condition of anonymity because the talks are private. They did not say when the deal might be finalised. Aramco and BlackRock declined to comment.The $100 billion Jafurah project, potentially the biggest shale gas project outside the United States, is central to Aramco's ambitions to become a major global player in natural gas and to boost its gas production capacity by 60% by 2030 from 2021 levels.The Jafurah assets underpinning the deal include gas pipelines and a gas processing plant, one of the sources said.Aramco has long been the biggest source of the kingdom's revenues. Saudia Arabia has been seeking to diversify its economy as oil prices ICEEUR:BRN1! have come under pressure from global economic uncertainty that could further reduce demand.They have also been depressed by increased output from the Organization of the Petroleum Exporting Countries, led by Saudi Arabia, which is striving to boost market share.Earlier this month, Reuters reported that Aramco was seeking to sell up to five gas-fired power plants to raise funds.PREVIOUS DEALS In 2021, BlackRock and EIG were among investor groups that took stakes in companies that leased usage rights in Aramco’s gas and oil pipeline networks. The groups leased them back to Aramco for a 20-year period in two separate deals, helping the Saudi company to raise nearly $28 billion.Described as lease and leaseback transactions by Aramco at the time, they were structured as a form of...

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