By Ghislaine Lere

Singapore, May 21 (Reuters) - Saudi Arabia is expected to consume more imported fuel oil for power generation this summer, analysts said, following disruptions to natural gas supplies from oil fields that were shut down after the war with Iran restricted the kingdom's oil exports.

The increased use of fuel in power plants, at a time when demand for electricity for cooling rises in the summer, represents a setback to the Kingdom's efforts to switch to cleaner fuels.

The world's largest oil exporter was forced to halt production of more than three million barrels per day of oil after Iran's closure of the Strait of Hormuz stopped crude oil exports from Ras Tanura, which in turn led to a decrease in associated gas production.

Saudi Aramco said in its latest quarterly earnings report that gas production fell to 10.5 billion cubic feet per day in the first quarter, from 10.7 billion cubic feet per day in the fourth quarter of 2025, despite the Jafurah gas field coming online in December.

Vortexa data indicates that Aramco increased its fuel oil imports to about 1.7 million tons (360,000 barrels per day) in April to replace gas in power generation plants, an 86 percent year-on-year increase, with most of these imports being unloaded at power generation and water desalination plants, including the South Jeddah plant and the Shuqaiq steam power plant.

"The significant increase in fuel oil imports is a key indicator that oil consumption will exceed last year's levels," said Rahul Chaudhary, vice president of oil and gas research at consultancy Rystad Energy.

Energy demand in the Kingdom typically rises from April and peaks in August, boosting the use of crude oil, high-sulfur fuel oil, and gas in power generation plants.

Chaudhry said that the burning of crude oil and fuel oil for power generation may exceed 1 million barrels per day this summer, hindering efforts to shift to the use of more gas and renewable energy, and erasing the 991,000 barrel per day reduction projected for 2025.

Saudi Aramco declined to comment. The Saudi government's Center for International Communication did not respond to a request for comment.