AI Takes the Helm in Middle East Gas Plants

Autonomous AI begins controlling gas operations, trimming energy use and emissions while keeping safety intact

17 Dec 2025

Artificial intelligence is beginning to move beyond advisory roles in the Middle East’s oil and gas sector, taking limited control of live industrial processes. At Saudi Aramco’s Fadhili Gas Plant, one of the region’s largest, autonomous AI systems are now operating specific units, marking a shift in how complex energy facilities are managed and optimized.

According to company statements, the deployment was developed with Yokogawa, a Japanese automation firm, and allows AI agents to manage defined process units, including acid gas removal. The systems adjust operating parameters in real time, acting within preset limits and alongside human operators and conventional control architectures. Officials involved describe the arrangement as an extension of existing automation, not a replacement of it.

The goals are largely economic and environmental. Saudi Aramco has said the AI deployment is intended to improve efficiency, reduce operating costs, and lower energy use and emissions without compromising safety. Early performance at Fadhili suggests reductions in energy consumption and chemical usage, while maintaining stable operations, gains that are closely watched as producers seek to preserve margins amid tighter climate and cost pressures.

Analysts say the project reflects a broader regional push to apply advanced digital tools that promise near-term returns. While Fadhili remains among the most visible examples, similar autonomous applications are under evaluation across Middle Eastern energy operations. Unlike conventional analytics systems, autonomous AI can act directly within defined boundaries, a capability that could deliver incremental performance improvements without major new capital investment.

Still, the transition raises questions. Workforce roles are likely to evolve as operators shift toward supervision and exception handling, rather than direct control. Regulators may also face pressure to clarify accountability when software executes operational decisions, even as human judgment remains central during abnormal or emergency conditions.

For now, autonomous AI has moved from pilot programs into live gas processing environments. How widely and quickly it spreads may shape the next phase of competition in the region’s energy sector, alongside longstanding advantages of scale and resource access.