bp eyes Ruwais LNG

UAE

Salem Bin Ashoor, executive director and head of country for bp UAE, talks to The Energy Year about providing expertise to further the UAE’s LNG ambitions and the company’s recently launched collaboration with Masdar to support innovation in climate technology. bp is a London-based multinational energy company.

How has bp’s role in the UAE energy industry been evolving in recent years?
bp has a deep commitment to the UAE, a key partner in our business for nearly 85 years. We have had a long-standing strategic partnership with ADNOC since its formation in 1971, and there is a strong alignment between bp and the UAE’s vision. We support the country’s plans for economic transformation in our transition into an integrated energy company.
We are investing in today’s energy systems and exploring collaborations in oil and gas, AI, advanced technologies and renewables. Our vision includes supporting ADNOC in enhancing oil production capacity and efficiency, as well as building an international gas partnership with them.

What role does ADNOC play within bp’s international business portfolio?
bp holds a 10% interest in the ADCO Onshore concession, effective until 2054, and serves as the asset leader for the Bab oilfield, which is one of ADNOC’s four onshore asset groups. In this role, bp provides expertise and leads technical studies to support efficient operations and asset development. We also oversee the Bab Integrated Facilities Project, a key initiative towards advancing ADNOC’s goal to expand oil production capacity to 5 million bopd by 2027 – ahead of the previous 2030 target – to meet rising global energy demand.
Additionally, bp holds 10% stakes in the Abu Dhabi Gas Liquefaction Company and the National Gas Shipping Company. Together, bp and ADNOC collaborate to share knowledge and technological capabilities on a global scale, ensuring Abu Dhabi remains a leader in the energy industry.

What are bp’s top decarbonisation initiatives in the UAE?
Our partnership with ADNOC is advancing in the H2Teesside project. We are now prioritising projects to ensure we capture the right value, narrowing down options and focusing on the most promising opportunities. Teesside is a UK project, and having ADNOC as a key partner will ensure that the lessons learned there will inform and strengthen our collaboration in the UAE.

How do you assess the potential of Ruwais LNG within global LNG markets?
bp is proud to deepen its strategic partnership with ADNOC by participating in the Ruwais LNG project. We have announced plans to take a 10% interest, which would greatly enhance our long-term LNG presence in the UAE. The facility will be located in Al Ruwais Industrial City and will receive feed gas from ADNOC’s Habshan gas processing complex via a 167-kilometre pipeline. The project is 60% owned by ADNOC and operated via its subsidiary ADNOC Gas O&M, and bp, Shell, TotalEnergies and Mitsui each hold a 10% stake.
ADNOC is planning for the Ruwais LNG to be the first electric-driven LNG plant in the MENA region. With a capacity of 9.6 million tonnes per year (tpy) of LNG, it will bring ADNOC’s LNG production capacity to 15 million tpy. The UAE’s competitive gas resources make Ruwais a strong fit for bp’s global gas business growth strategy, and ADNOC’s ambition to create one of the world’s lowest carbon-intensity LNG facilities is a key milestone for the industry. We are proud to contribute to this important initiative.

Can you share some details about your recently launched Catalyst initiative?
We celebrated the soft launch of Catalyst 2.0 in September 2024. It is a partnership between Masdar City and bp that aims to accelerate the development of clean technologies in the MENA region. Active in the UAE with an expanded mission to extend its reach into Oman and Egypt, it seeks to identify and support pioneering start-ups that can drive innovation in climate technology and further the energy transition. The collaboration is a bold step toward sustainable development and unlocking opportunities for entrepreneurs whose innovations can shape a cleaner, more resilient future.

What are bp’s key priorities for 2025?
Our priority is to achieve growth while remaining competitive and resilient. Balancing these goals can be challenging, as growth often brings added costs. Our focus will be on aligning operational elements through technology, AI, process changes, innovative execution methods and new contracting strategies.
In the current regional context, with numerous projects creating pressure on the contracting environment, it is essential to harness innovation within Abu Dhabi and the UAE. The aim is to enhance contractor capabilities, speed up execution and ensure top-notch project delivery.

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