ADNOC has strengthened its position in the global LNG market.

 

This is after signing a 15-year Sales and Purchase Agreement (SPA) with Japan’s INPEX CORPORATION for the supply of 1 million tonnes per annum (mtpa) of liquefied natural gas from its flagship Ruwais LNG project.

 

The agreement marks the first long-term LNG contract announced following the launch of ADNOC and XRG’s integrated global LNG marketing and trading platform, highlighting the UAE’s push to expand its LNG footprint and deepen energy ties with Japan.

 

The SPA was announced during a visit to Japan by Sultan Al Jaber, UAE Minister of Industry and Advanced Technology, Managing Director and Group CEO of ADNOC, and Executive Chairman of XRG, who is leading a delegation aimed at strengthening six decades of UAE-Japan energy cooperation.

 

With the latest agreement, long-term commitments for Ruwais LNG have crossed more than 90% of the project’s total 9.6 mtpa production capacity. Japanese buyers now account for nearly 23% of the project’s contracted volumes.

 

Nasser Al Muhairi, Acting CEO of ADNOC Downstream Industry, Marketing & Trading, and Chairman of Ruwais LNG, said: “This SPA with INPEX marks the first long-term LNG agreement announced following the launch of ADNOC and XRG’s integrated global LNG marketing and trading platform, demonstrating how we are bringing more LNG molecules, greater market access and enhanced commercial flexibility to our customers. 

 

"It builds on ADNOC’s decades-long energy partnership with Japan, advances the commercialization of Ruwais LNG and reinforces strong market confidence in the project. As ADNOC and XRG target 47 mtpa of combined marketable LNG by 2035, Ruwais LNG will be a key source of reliable, flexible and lower-carbon supply for customers in Asia and around the world.”

 

The deal further cements the long-standing partnership between INPEX and ADNOC Group. It supports INPEX Vision 2035, unveiled in February 2025, which aims to strengthen the Japanese company’s LNG portfolio and improve supply flexibility by complementing LNG from its own projects.