ADNOC, Shell Finalize 15-Year LNG Supply Agreement for Ruwais Plant

Post by : Bianca Suleiman

At ADIPEC 2025, the Abu Dhabi National Oil Company (ADNOC) concluded a 15-year Sales and Purchase Agreement (SPA) with Shell International Trading Middle East Limited FZE, a Shell plc subsidiary, for the delivery of up to 1 million tonnes per annum (mtpa) of liquefied natural gas (LNG).

This transaction marks ADNOC’s first long-term LNG SPA with Shell and represents the eighth long-term offtake secured for the Ruwais LNG project in Al Ruwais Industrial City. The SPA formalises a previous Heads of Agreement and signals a firm step toward commercialising the development.

Since the project’s Final Investment Decision (FID) in July 2024, ADNOC has contracted more than 8 mtpa of the Ruwais plant’s planned 9.6 mtpa capacity with buyers across Asia and Europe—less than 16 months after FID. An initial long-term SPA was announced at ADIPEC 2024, laying groundwork for subsequent deals.

The LNG volumes will come mainly from two 4.8 mtpa liquefaction trains now under construction, which will increase ADNOC Gas’ LNG output to roughly 15 mtpa. The Ruwais facility is designed to be the first LNG export terminal in the Middle East and Africa powered by clean energy, and it will employ AI and advanced operational technologies to boost safety, efficiency and reduce carbon intensity.

Shell holds a 10 percent equity interest in the Ruwais LNG project through Shell Overseas Holdings Limited, strengthening its long-standing commercial relationship with ADNOC and underlining both companies’ focus on energy security and more sustainable growth.

With construction activities and contractor mobilisation proceeding to plan, ADNOC expects the Ruwais LNG complex to enter commissioning by the end of 2028, positioning the UAE as a growing supplier in the global lower-carbon LNG market.