Tokyo, Japan – ADNOC announced the signing of a 15-year sale and purchase agreement with Inpex Corporation – Inpex, Japan’s largest exploration, development and production company. To supply one million metric tons of liquefied natural gas annually from the Ruwais project.
The agreement was announced during the visit of Dr. Sultan Ahmed Al Jaber, Minister of Industry and Advanced Technology, Managing Director and CEO of ADNOC and its group of companies, and Executive Chairman of the Board of Directors of XRG, to Japan. He heads a delegation from ADNOC to hold a number of meetings with senior government officials and Japanese business leaders. With the aim of strengthening the long-term energy partnership between the UAE and Japan. Building on six decades of trust-based cooperation.
Strengthening long-term relationships
The agreement strengthens the long-standing and solid relationship between INBEX and ADNOC Group. It is also in line with INPEX Vision 2035 announced in February 2025. Which aims to strengthen its business portfolio in the field of liquefied natural gas and provide flexible supplies of this vital resource. Complementing the quantities produced from its own projects, INBEX is also a long-term strategic partner of ADNOC in the exploration, development and production sector. It owns shares in a number of Abu Dhabi land and sea concessions.
LNG will be supplied primarily from the Ruwais project, which is being developed in Ruwais Industrial City in Abu Dhabi. It is scheduled to begin commercial operations in 2028.
The purchase and sale agreement represents a new stage in ADNOC’s strategy for global expansion in the liquefied natural gas sector. The company’s position as a leading global supplier of low-carbon liquefied natural gas is consolidated.
So far, a commitment has been made to sell 90% of the production capacity of the Ruwais LNG project, which amounts to 9.6 million tons annually, to international buyers in Asia and Europe under long-term agreements.
The first facility to operate on clean electricity
The Ruwais project will be the first LNG export facility in the Middle East and North Africa region to operate on clean electricity. Making it one of the least carbon-intensive LNG facilities in the world.
The facility will employ artificial intelligence and advanced technology to enhance safety standards and raise efficiency. Reducing emissions and achieving operational excellence.
It is noteworthy that ADNOC Gas announced in November 2024 its expectation to acquire ADNOC’s 60% stake in the Ruwais LNG project at a cost price estimated at approximately $5 billion. This will be in 2028.
Upon completion of the project, which includes two natural gas liquefaction lines with a production capacity of 4.8 million metric tons per year each, and a total production capacity of 9.6 million tons per year. It will more than double ADNOC Gas’s current operating production capacity to approximately 15 million metric tons of liquefied natural gas annually.
