Saudi Arabia’s sudden enthusiasm for developing its vast shale resources -- led by the giant Jafurah basin -- is rooted in a hard?nosed mix of energy security, export optimisation, and geopolitical positioning. Riyadh wants to slash the crude it still burns for power, free up more barrels for export at a time of tight OPEC+ management, and secure new feedstock for its expanding petrochemicals and industrial base. At the same time, the Kingdom is acutely aware that the U.S. shale boom reshaped global energy markets and eroded OPEC’s…