ABU DHABI: Italy’s Eni and Austria’s OMV have agreed to pay a combined $5.8 billion to take a stake in Abu Dhabi National Oil Company’s (ADNOC) refining business and establish a new trading operation owned by the three partners.
The transaction, which expands ADNOC’s access to European markets, furthers Eni’s diversification away from Africa and gives OMV a downstream oil business outside Europe. It was hailed as a “one of a kind” deal by ADNOC’s Chief Executive Sultan Al-Jaber.
“The whole oil and gas industry hasn’t seen a transaction of this size and sophistication,” he said.
Under the agreement, Eni and OMV will acquire a 20 percent and a 15 percent share in ADNOC Refining respectively, with ADNOC owning the remaining 65 percent, the three companies said in statements on Sunday.
The partners will own the same proportions of the joint trading venture, they added.
OMV said that it would pay around $2.5 billion, while Eni said it would pay around $3.3 billion, giving ADNOC Refining, which has a total refining capacity of 922,000 barrels per day, an enterprise value of $19.3 billion.
The agreement includes output from the Ruwais Refinery, the fourth largest single site refinery in the world.
WIN/WIN
The new trading venture will expand market access for ADNOC Refining’s products with export volumes equivalent to approximately 70 percent of throughput.
“We are already well-positioned in Asia and we want to increase our market share there .... but this will also help us to have access to European markets and beyond,” Al-Jaber said.
Eni has signed several deals in the Middle East in recent months as it expands outside Africa where it is the biggest foreign oil and gas producer.
The company’s CEO Claudio Descalzi said the partnership would increase its global refining capacity by 35 percent.
“This transaction, which allows us to enter the United Arab Emirates’ downstream sector...(will make) Eni’s overall portfolio more geographically diversified, more balanced along the value chain, more efficient and more resilient to cope with market volatility,” he said.
OMV described the deal, which is set to close in the third quarter of 2019, as a major milestone in relation to its “Strategy 2025” plan. It said it would finance the deal primarily out of its cash flow.
“With (this transaction) OMV has established a strong integrated position in Abu Dhabi...spanning from upstream production to refining & trading and petrochemicals,” CEO Rainer Seele said.
Founded in 1971, ADNOC has undergone major change since Al-Jaber’s appointment in 2016, part of wider economic reforms led by Abu Dhabi Crown Prince Sheikh Mohammed bin Zayed Al-Nahyan, who witnessed the signing of the three-way agreement.
Al-Jaber has embarked on privatising its services businesses, ventured into oil trading and expanded partnerships with strategic investors.
Abu Dhabi’s ADNOC seals $5.8bn refining and trading deal with ENI, OMV
Abu Dhabi’s ADNOC seals $5.8bn refining and trading deal with ENI, OMV
- The transaction is one of the largest ever in the refinery business
- The partners will also establish a joint trading venture
Saudi Aramco achieves significant progress in its gas production plan
RIYADH: Saudi Aramco has announced the achievement of significant progress in its plan to expand gas production, with the start of production at the Jafurah field, the largest unconventional gas field in the Middle East, and the commencement of operational activities at the Tanajib Gas Plant, one of the largest gas plants in the world.
The oil giant aims to increase its sales gas production capacity by approximately 80 percent by 2030 compared to 2021 production levels, reaching nearly 6 million barrels of oil equivalent per day from total gas and associated liquids production, according to the Saudi Press Agency.
This is expected to generate additional operating cash flows ranging between $12 billion and $15 billion in 2030, subject to future demand for sales gas and liquids prices.
President and CEO of Saudi Aramco, Amin Al-Nasser, said: “We are proud to commence production at the Jafurah field and begin operations at the Tanajib Gas Plant. These are major achievements for Saudi Aramco and the future of energy in the Kingdom. Our ambitious gas program is expected to become a key source of profitability.”
He affirmed that these mega-projects contribute to meeting the growing domestic demand for gas, supporting industrialization and development in several key sectors, in addition to producing significant quantities of high-value liquids.
Al-Nasser expressed his gratitude for the support, trust, and attention that Saudi Aramco receives from the Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques, King Salman bin Abdulaziz Al Saud, and His Royal Highness Prince Mohammed bin Salman bin Abdulaziz Al Saud, crown prince and prime minister, noting that this has had the most profound impact on the company’s achievements and distinguished projects that serve the Kingdom’s Vision 2030.
The gas extracted from the Jafurah field is expected to support the Kingdom’s growth targets in key sectors such as energy, artificial intelligence, major industries, and petrochemicals, potentially providing a major boost to the Kingdom’s economy and strengthening its position among the world’s top ten gas producers.
Saudi Aramco began first producing unconventional shale gas from the Jafurah field in December 2025, with technology playing a pivotal role in unlocking the potential of the Jafurah field and establishing it as a global benchmark for unconventional gas development.
Since its inception, the project has leveraged technology to help reduce drilling and stimulation costs and enhance well productivity, contributing to its strong economic prospects.
The Jafurah area covers 17,000 sq. km and is estimated to contain 229 trillion standard cubic feet of raw gas and 75 billion barrels of condensates. The Jafurah field project aims to produce 2 billion standard cubic feet per day of sales gas, 420 million standard cubic feet per day of ethane, and approximately 630,00 barrels per day of gas liquids and condensates by 2030.
The Tanajib Gas Plant is a key pillar in Aramco’s strategy to increase gas processing capacities and diversify its energy product portfolio, helping to foster long-term economic growth.
Operations began in December 2025, and its raw gas processing capacity is expected to reach 2.6 billion standard cubic feet per day in 2026. The start of operations at the Tanajib Plant coincided with the commencement of production from the Marjan field expansion and development program.
The plant is distinguished by its digital integration, enhanced operational efficiency, capability to execute complex projects, and optimal use of resources. It processes raw gas associated with crude oil production from the offshore Marjan and Zuluf fields.
Aramco’s gas expansion is expected to create thousands of direct and indirect job opportunities, generating significant added value and strengthening its position as a reliable energy provider.
It also helps meet the growing demand for natural gas and enhances its supply to national industries.
The expansion strategy supports efforts aimed at achieving the optimal energy mix for local electricity generation, advancing the Kingdom’s liquid fuel displacement program, which will have a positive environmental impact, supporting the Kingdom’s ambition to achieve net-zero emissions by 2060, enhancing energy security, and contributing to building a more diversified national economy.
