Saudi Arabia’s Industrialization and Energy Services Company (TAQA) is expanding in Azerbaijan, Kazakhstan and Syria as it develops the well solutions and specialized technologies driving its growth. The company, 54% owned by the Public Investment Fund, uses Saudi Arabia as its main operating hub and launchpad for international expansion. Chief Executive Adel Al-Ghadhban told Asharq Al-Awsat in exclusive comments during the World Petroleum Congress that TAQA was building its presence in Azerbaijan and Kazakhstan and establishing operations in Syria. It has set up a legal entity in Azerbaijan and qualified as a supplier to state-owned SOCAR. In Kazakhstan, registration and qualification procedures have begun with several customers. Cooperation with SOCAR covers opportunities in oil and gas field operations and services, as well as 'well services and technologies,' Al-Ghadhban said. TAQA has moved into practical steps to establish itself in Azerbaijan, completing incorporation procedures and registering as a qualified supplier. Asked about project budgets and timelines, he said the memorandum of understanding set a framework for cooperation, separate from any contracts or projects that might follow. TAQA prefers to announce each project once its scope is finalized and commercial arrangements are approved. The Caspian region and Central Asia offer significant growth opportunities, he said. TAQA’s international strategy targets markets where it can add value and build sustainable businesses, rather than expand for geographic reach alone. Well solutions drive growth Well solutions are TAQA’s main growth engine, Al-Ghadhban said. They span drilling, well completion and intervention, well testing, wireline services, cementing, stimulation and early production facilities. The company performed strongly in 2025 in areas including well testing, completion and wireline services. It also advanced the development and commercialization of drilling, completion and well intervention technologies. TAQA is integrating its services and technologies to cover multiple stages of a well’s life cycle. The focus is on directing investment toward higher-value services, bringing technologies to market faster and expanding selectively into markets offering profitable, sustainable growth. Digitalization and innovation TAQA sees innovation and advanced technologies as pillars of growth, supported by its innovation center in Dhahran Techno Valley and specialized centers developing drilling, completion and well intervention products. Development starts with identifying customers’ challenges, Al-Ghadhban said. The company then develops, tests and qualifies solutions in the field before turning them into products and technologies that can be scaled commercially. Its digitalization efforts focus on data, artificial intelligence and automation in research and development projects, working with customers, industry partners and academic institutions. Technology investments aim to make operations more efficient, improve well performance and reduce time, total costs and operational risks for customers. TAQA prefers to withhold specific figures for future investment until plans and budgets are approved, he said. Supply chain resilience Geopolitical challenges have sharpened TAQA’s focus on resilience, operational discipline and cost competitiveness as it faces pressures on operating costs and supply chains, Al-Ghadhban said. The company has updated its operating model to clarify responsibilities, speed up decisions and simplify processes. It has also improved the use of assets and resources and strengthened supplier partnerships. For some product lines, TAQA has diversified its sources of production and research and development to strengthen supply chain resilience and manufacturing efficiency. Efficiency means more than cutting expenses, Al-Ghadhban said. It also requires improving how work is carried out and capital is allocated, while balancing competitiveness and service continuity with safety, quality and reliability. About TAQA Founded in 2003 and headquartered in Dhahran, TAQA provides integrated oil and gas well solutions. Its services include drilling, well completion and intervention, well testing, wireline logging, cementing, hydraulic fracturing and well integrity. The company operates in more than 20 countries and employs more than 5,500 people. Its portfolio spans drilling, geophysical services and surveying, with companies including Arabian Drilling, the Arabian Geophysical and Surveying Company (ARGAS).
