ADNOC To Launch MENA’s First Clean Power LNG Export Facility In Major $5.5 Billion Investment

Sheikh Khaled bin Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan, Crown Prince of Abu Dhabi and Chairman the Abu Dhabi Executive Council, recently presided over a pivotal meeting of the Executive Committee of the ADNOC Board of Directors. This gathering marked a significant milestone in the advancement of the UAE's energy sector.

During this crucial assembly, His Highness approved the final investment decision for ADNOC innovative Ruwais liquefied natural gas (LNG) project at reducing carbon intensity. Additionally, a substantial Engineering, Procurement, and Construction (EPC) contract for the project, valued at approximately $5.5 billion (Dh20.2 billion), was awarded. Situated in Al Ruwais Industrial City in the Al Dhafra region of Abu Dhabi, this initiative stands as the first LNG export facility in the Middle East and North Africa (MENA) region to operate on clean power, positioning it among the world's least carbon-intensive LNG plants.

Sheikh Khaled highlighted the project's role in bolstering ADNOC's status as a dependable global natural gas supplier, while also propelling the growth of Al Ruwais Industrial City through investment attraction and the stimulation of the local industrial ecosystem. An impressive 55% of the EPC award's value is expected to flow back into the UAE’s economy, under ADNOC's In-Country Value (ICV) program, promoting economic, industrial expansion, and the creation of skilled jobs for Emiratis.

The Crown Prince also commended ADNOC's recent strategic ventures in significant lower-carbon LNG projects in the United States and Mozambique. Updates on growth projects across ADNOC's value chain were provided, with directives issued to focus on targeted growth both within the UAE and internationally to cater to the escalating energy demand.

Furthermore, Sheikh Khaled reviewed ADNOC’s strategy to enhance its business operations through the integration of artificial intelligence (AI) and technology. This approach aims to generate greater value and supply smarter, cleaner, and safer energy worldwide. ADNOC plans to use its portfolio of low carbon energy to bolster AI growth while fast-tracking the integration and deployment of AI solutions across its operations to maximize value, reduce emissions, and ensure safety.

The Ruwais LNG project EPC contract was secured by a joint venture led by Technip Energies, with JGC Corporation and NMDC Energy also participating. The project will feature two LNG liquefaction trains with a collective capacity of 9.6 mmtpa, effectively more than doubling ADNOC’s current UAE LNG production capacity to approximately 15mmtpa as the company expands its global LNG portfolio. This facility will incorporate AI and state-of-the-art technologies to optimize safety, lower emissions, and enhance efficiency.

The meeting was attended by key figures including Dr. Sultan Ahmed Al Jaber, Minister of Industry and Advanced Technology and ADNOC Managing Director and Group CEO; Suhail Mohamed Al Mazrouei, Minister for Energy and Infrastructure; Khaldoon Khalifa Al Mubarak, Managing Director and Group CEO of Mubadala Investment Company; and Jassem Mohammed Buatabah Al Zaabi, Chairman of the Abu Dhabi Department of Finance.