Saudi Aramco has announced more than $3.7 billion in potential agreements with French companies as the oil giant seeks to strengthen its supply chain and increase the adoption of artificial intelligence and other digital technologies throughout its operations. The USD 3.7B deals were announced during a French-Saudi investment roundtable attended by Aramco President and CEO Amin Nasser. The package covers several areas, including procurement of drilling equipment and oil country tubular goods, or OCTG, which are steel pipes used in drilling and well construction.
Among the USD 3.7B deals is a corporate procurement agreement for drilling equipment, alongside a purchase agreement covering OCTG. Aramco Digital has also entered into an MoU with a French counterpart to establish a framework for potential cooperation involving industrial artificial intelligence, virtual twin and digital twin technologies. The potential cooperation could include applications in the oil and gas sector.
Aramco said these partnerships could contribute to operational continuity and efficiency while also supporting technology transfer, capability development and supply chain resilience. The company, however, did not identify the French counterparties involved in the announcement or provide a breakdown of how the potential $3.7 billion value is distributed across the individual agreements.
Supply Chain and Digital Technology Expansion
The USD 3.7B deals form part of Aramco’s wider strategy of localizing and diversifying its procurement network while bringing more advanced digital technology into its upstream and downstream operations. For equipment suppliers, closer procurement relationships with one of the world’s largest oil producers could provide access to significant long-term demand as Saudi Arabia continues investing across its energy and industrial sectors.
Focus on AI and Digital Twins
The digital element of the USD 3.7B deals reflects the wider industry push toward AI, predictive analytics and digital-twin systems. Energy companies are increasingly using these technologies to optimize facilities, reduce downtime and support maintenance and production decisions. Through the MoU signed by Aramco Digital, potential cooperation will focus on industrial artificial intelligence, virtual twin and digital twin technologies, with possible applications in the oil and gas sector.
The agreements also further deepen commercial links between Saudi Arabia and France as Riyadh pursues international technology and industrial partnerships alongside its domestic economic diversification program.
