Oil, gas and petrochemical facilities are among the most detailed activities in Saudi environmental regulations, because their potential impacts are large: stack and flare emissions, volatile organic compounds leaking from fittings and valves, large storage tanks, loading and unloading operations, hazardous waste and spill risks that can reach soil and water. The Implementing Regulation for Air Quality sets specific requirements for these activities that do not apply to others. This page summarizes the main ones.

Fugitive emissions: mandatory programs

The Air Quality Regulation requires programs and systems to detect and stop fugitive organic emissions, approved in advance by the National Center for Environmental Compliance (NCEC), for activities including:

  • Oil refining.
  • Manufacture of the organic chemicals listed in the regulation's annex.
  • Natural gas operations such as separation, processing or treatment of more than 700,000 cubic meters per day.
  • Manufacture of organic chemicals that produce or handle hazardous organic air pollutants, with specified exemptions.

It requires a fugitive emissions management plan approved by NCEC, and data, records and annual reports kept for at least five years. Leak detection uses US EPA Method 21 or optical gas imaging cameras, with specific leak thresholds for pumps, agitators and other components.

Tanks, loading and unloading

  • Fixed tanks larger than 75 cubic meters storing volatile organic compounds need control devices under the regulation's annex, and floating roofs need primary and secondary seals, visual inspection, self-inspection and routine maintenance.
  • The operator repairs any defect NCEC finds in these tanks within 30 working days of inspection.
  • Loading and unloading above set thresholds requires a vapor control system with control efficiency of at least 95% for recovery units and 98% for combustion units.

Stacks, flares and continuous monitoring

  • Stationary sources listed in the regulation's annex install NCEC-approved continuous emission monitoring, submit operating procedures within 90 days of installation and have the systems audited periodically by a licensed provider.
  • Flares have specific operating standards, including continuous flame with monitoring, a plan to minimize flaring, and a monthly report to NCEC on the quantity and composition of gases flared.
  • NCEC must be notified immediately of emergencies, start-ups or temporary shutdowns that may exceed emission standards.

Soil, emergencies and waste

The Soil Pollution Regulation requires prevention measures and records, and prohibits failing to notify NCEC immediately when contamination is detected. After a pollution incident, the Rehabilitation Regulation requires a contaminated site remediation plan, and the polluter bears the costs under the polluter-pays principle. Hazardous waste from operations and maintenance is handed to carriers and facilities licensed by the National Center for Waste Management (MWAN).

Permits and audits

Facilities in this sector are often in categories requiring an EIA study for construction, and renewing their operating permit requires an environmental audit study every three years under the Inspection and Audit Regulation.

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How Abak Green helps oil and petrochemical facilities

Within our license scope we handle compliance reports and environmental records, coordination of measurements through licensed providers, inspection findings, and emergency and rehabilitation plans, and we manage EIA study files through approval. Contact us about your facility.