Gulf Today,
Thursday, Nov 28, 2024 | Jumada al-Awwal 26, 1446
President chairs ADNOC meet, approves launch of $80b XRG
United Arab
Emirates:
President His
Highness Sheikh Mohamed Bin Zayed Al Nahyan has presided over the annual
meeting of the ADNOC Board of Directors.
During the meeting, which was held at ADNOC Headquarters, Sheikh Mohamed
approved the launch of XRG, a lower-carbon energy and chemicals investment
company to accelerate ADNOC’s international growth and drive greater value.
Following the Board's strategic endorsement, the ADNOC announced the launch
of XRG, a groundbreaking international lower-carbon energy and chemicals
investment company, with an enterprise value of over $80 billion.
XRG aims to more than double its asset value over the next decade by
capitalsing on demand for low-carbon energy and chemicals driven by three
megatrends: the transformation of energy, exponential growth of AI, and the
rise of emerging economies.
XRG will initially focus on investments that meet the growing global demand
for natural gas, chemicals and low carbon energies.
Sheikh Mohamed praised ADNOC for its achievements in delivering on its
international growth strategy and noted that XRG will build on these
achievements and ADNOC’s track record in energy and investments to deliver
long-term sustainable value for the UAE.
The board endorsed ADNOC’s target to drive Dhs200 billion ($54.5 billion)
into the UAE economy over the next five years through its In-Country Value (ICV)
programme, building on Dhs55 billion ($15 billion) delivered this year.
The ICV programme also created 5,500 jobs for Emiratis in the private sector
this year in partnership with the Emirati Talent Competitiveness Council (Nafis).
These achievements bring the total value ADNOC has driven back into the UAE
economy to Dhs242 billion ($65.9 billion), with 17,000 Emiratis employed in
the private sector since the programme was launched in 2018.
Sheikh Mohamed highlighted ADNOC’s important role as a primary catalyst for
the UAE’s growth and diversification and commended the company for
continuing to prioritise value creation for the nation and stimulate
economic and industrial opportunities for the private sector.
As part of these efforts, ADNOC is enabling local manufacturing of critical
industrial products in its supply chain.
The company has signed local manufacturing agreements with UAE and
international companies worth Dhs72 billion ($19.6 billion) since 2022, as
it delivers on its target to locally manufacture Dhs90 billion (US$24.5
billion) worth of products in its procurement pipeline by 2030 in support of
the UAE’s ‘Make it in the Emirates’ initiative.
The board reviewed ADNOC’s gas growth strategy and commended the company’s
progress in harnessing the UAE’s gas resources to meet growing global gas
demand. Through the lower-carbon Ruwais LNG project, ADNOC is more than
doubling its existing UAE liquefied natural gas (LNG) production capacity to
around 15 million tonnes per annum (mtpa) while building an integrated
global gas business with strategic investments in Egypt, Mozambique,
Azerbaijan, and the US.
The board was updated on ADNOC’s artificial intelligence and digital
technology (AIDT) strategy as it aims to become the world's most AI-enabled
energy company. The board praised ADNOC for its industry leadership in
leveraging digitalisation, advanced technologies, and artificial
intelligence (AI) to enhance efficiencies and future-proof its business.
Ahead of the meeting, Sheikh Mohamed visited ADNOC’s world-class AI center,
where he was briefed on how the company is integrating AI from the control
room to the board room to enhance safety, maximise value, and reduce
emissions as it continues to advance the UAE’s thriving AI ecosystem.
During the tour, Sheikh Mohamed was shown some of ADNOC’s innovative AI
solutions, including the world-first deployment of Robowell, an autonomous
well-control solution, as well as the AI Lab, which is set to identify and
shape high-value AI use cases across its operations. His Highness was also
updated on ENERGYai, a first-of-its-kind agentic AI solution, which ADNOC
recently launched in collaboration with AIQ, G42, and Microsoft.
Sheikh Mohamed met with a group of young talented Emirati employees driving
pioneering AI initiatives. Building on the success of ADNOC’s Trading
Academy, His Highness was briefed on how young Emirati commodity traders are
being upskilled to create additional revenue streams for the company across
its international trading businesses.
He praised ADNOC for empowering young Emirati talent and delivering several
strategic initiatives to develop its people. His Highness stressed that
people are the nation’s greatest asset, and the UAE leadership will continue
to prioritise human capital development.
Sheikh Mohamed thanked ADNOC employees for their hard work and dedication
and emphasised the importance of continuous performance improvement,
efficiency, and agility.
Dr Sultan Bin Ahmed Al Jaber, Minister of Industry and Advanced Technology
and Managing Director and Group CEO of ADNOC said, "Under the guidance of
President His Highness Sheikh Mohamed Bin Zayed Al Nahyan and the steadfast
support of the ADNOC Board of Directors, ADNOC is reinforcing its critical
role as a catalyst for the UAE’s economic and industrial growth and a
reliable global energy provider. This year has been a transformative period
for ADNOC where we have taken important steps to future-proof our business,
pivot to new growth opportunities across the energy value chain and the
world, and accelerate the adoption of AI to drive efficiency and unlock
greater value. With the support of all my colleagues across the ADNOC Group,
we will build on this momentum to deliver more energy with fewer emissions
to empower lives and fuel economies while delivering long-term sustainable
value and growth.”
ADNOC’s strong sustainability performance and its efforts to decarbonise and
drive low-carbon growth was also highlighted by the board. The board
directed ADNOC to double down on its 2030 sustainability strategy and its
industry-leading net zero by 2045 ambition.
ADNOC ranks among the least carbon-intensive oil and gas producers in the
world and is further reducing its carbon intensity by 25% and targeting
near-zero methane emissions by 2030.
Attending the meeting were His Highness Sheikh Mansour Bin Zayed Al Nahyan,
Vice President, Deputy Prime Minister and Chairman of the Presidential
Court; His Highness Sheikh Khaled Bin Mohamed Bin Zayed Al Nahyan, Crown
Prince of Abu Dhabi and Chairman of the Abu Dhabi Executive Council; Sheikh
Hazza Bin Zayed Al Nahyan, Deputy Ruler of Abu Dhabi; Suhail bin Mohammed Al
Mazrouei, Minister of Energy and Infrastructure; Dr Ahmed Mubarak Al
Mazrouie, Member of the Executive Council and Chairman of the Abu Dhabi
Executive Office; Ahmed Ali Al Sayegh, Minister of State; Jassem Al Zaabi,
Member of the Executive Council and Chairman of the Department of Finance;
Awaidha Murshed Al Marar, Member of the Executive Council and Chairman of
the Department of Energy; and Khaldoon Khalifa Al Mubarak, Chairman of the
Executive Affairs Authority and Managing Director and Group CEO of Mubadala.
WAM