UAE: ADNOC, TAQA Announce $2.4 Billion Project for Sustainable Water Supply

The project will develop a centralized world-class seawater treatment facility and transportation network for operations at the Bab and Bu Hasa fields in Abu Dhabi. Reuters file photo
The project will develop a centralized world-class seawater treatment facility and transportation network for operations at the Bab and Bu Hasa fields in Abu Dhabi. Reuters file photo
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UAE: ADNOC, TAQA Announce $2.4 Billion Project for Sustainable Water Supply

The project will develop a centralized world-class seawater treatment facility and transportation network for operations at the Bab and Bu Hasa fields in Abu Dhabi. Reuters file photo
The project will develop a centralized world-class seawater treatment facility and transportation network for operations at the Bab and Bu Hasa fields in Abu Dhabi. Reuters file photo

ADNOC and Abu Dhabi National Energy Company (TAQA) announced on Wednesday the award of a strategic investment project estimated at up to $2.4 billion (AED8.8 billion) to provide sustainable water supply for ADNOC’s onshore operations, reinforcing ADNOC and TAQA’s position as responsible energy leaders and underscoring their efforts to drive sustainable initiatives that deliver long-term value.

The project will develop a centralized world-class seawater treatment facility and transportation network for operations at the Bab and Bu Hasa fields in Abu Dhabi. This project will replace the current high-salinity, deep aquifer water systems at the fields, thereby reducing water injection-related energy consumption by up to 30%. The project will be connected to the grid and will receive 100% of its power from clean energy sources.

ADNOC and TAQA will jointly hold a 51% majority stake (25.5% each) in the Project Company and the remaining 49% stake has been awarded to a consortium comprised of Orascom Construction and Metito (the Consortium).

The Consortium will arrange the project financing for the construction phase and develop the project under a build, own, operate and transfer (BOOT) model, with the full project being returned to ADNOC after 30 years of operation.

Abdulmunim Al Kindy, ADNOC Upstream Executive Director, said, “The project will enhance our onshore energy efficiency by replacing less-efficient, high-salinity, deep aquifer water systems with a centralized seawater treatment facility and transportation network. With a substantial portion of the project value flowing back into the UAE economy, this landmark initiative will further stimulate economic and industrial growth and create commercial opportunities for the private sector.”

“More than 60% of the project value during the development and operation phases will flow back into the UAE’s economy under ADNOC’s highly successful In-Country Value (ICV) program.”

TAQA’s Group CEO and Managing Director Jasim Husain Thabet said the announced project will advance the UAE’s sustainability goals.

“TAQA is especially committed to partnerships like this that use our expertise to help drive environmental stewardship while maintaining water security and supporting economic growth.”

The project will deliver more than 110 million imperial gallons per day (MIGD) of nano-filtered seawater through 75 kilometers of transportation and over 230 kilometers of distribution pipelines and two pumping stations, supplying sustainable water for ADNOC’s onshore operations.



Ukraine Threatens to Halt Transit of Russian Oil to Europe

A view of storage tanks and pipelines at the Mero central oil tank farm, which moves crude through the Druzhba oil pipeline, near Nelahozeves, Czech Republic, August 10, 2022. REUTERS/David W Cerny/File Photo
A view of storage tanks and pipelines at the Mero central oil tank farm, which moves crude through the Druzhba oil pipeline, near Nelahozeves, Czech Republic, August 10, 2022. REUTERS/David W Cerny/File Photo
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Ukraine Threatens to Halt Transit of Russian Oil to Europe

A view of storage tanks and pipelines at the Mero central oil tank farm, which moves crude through the Druzhba oil pipeline, near Nelahozeves, Czech Republic, August 10, 2022. REUTERS/David W Cerny/File Photo
A view of storage tanks and pipelines at the Mero central oil tank farm, which moves crude through the Druzhba oil pipeline, near Nelahozeves, Czech Republic, August 10, 2022. REUTERS/David W Cerny/File Photo

A top aide to Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky on Friday said Kyiv would halt the transit of Russian oil across its territory at the end of the year, when the current contract expires and is not renewed.

Mykhailo Podolyak said in an interview with the Novini.Live broadcaster that current transit contracts for Russian supplies that run through the end of the year will not be renewed.

“There is no doubt that it will all end on January 1, 2025,” he said.

Kiev says it is prepared to transport gas from the Central Asian countries or Azerbaijan to Europe, but not from Russia, as it is crucial for Ukraine to deprive Russia of its sources of income from the sale of raw materials after it attacked its neighbor well over two years ago.

The contract for the transit of Russian gas through Ukraine to Europe between the state-owned companies Gazprom and Naftogaz ends on December 31.

Despite the launch of Russia's full-scale invasion of Ukraine in February 2022, the Ukrainians have fulfilled the contract terms - in part at the insistence of its European neighbors, especially Hungary.

But the leadership in Kiev has repeatedly made it clear that it wants the shipments to end.

Meanwhile, the Czech Republic energy security envoy Vaclav Bartuska said on Friday that any potential halt in oil supplies via the Druzhba pipeline through Ukraine from Russia from next year would not be a problem for the country.

Responding to a Reuters question – on comments by Ukrainian presidential aide Mykhailo Podolyak that flows of Russian oil may stop from January – Bartuska said Ukraine had also in the past warned of a potential halt.

“This is not the first time, this time maybe they mean it seriously – we shall see,” Bartuska said in a text message. “For the Czech Republic, it is not a problem.”

To end partial dependency on the Druzhba pipeline, Czech state-owned pipeline operator MERO has been investing in raising the capacity of the TAL pipeline from Italy to Germany, which connects to the IKL pipeline supplying the Czech Republic.

From next year, the increased capacity would be sufficient for the total needs of the country’s two refineries, owned by Poland’s Orlen, of up to 8 million tons of crude per year.

MERO has said it planned to achieve the country’s independence from Russian oil from the start of 2025, although the TAL upgrade would be finished by June 2025.

On Friday, oil prices stabilized, heading for a weekly increase, as disruptions in Libyan production and Iraq’s plans to curb output raised concerns about supply.

Meanwhile, data showing that the US economy grew faster than initially estimated eased recession fears.

However, signs of weakening demand, particularly in China, capped gains.

Brent crude futures for October delivery, which expire on Friday, fell by 7 cents, or 0.09%, to $79.87 per barrel. The more actively traded November contract rose 5 cents, or 0.06%, to $78.87.

US West Texas Intermediate (WTI) crude futures added 6 cents, or 0.08%, to $75.97 per barrel.

The day before, both benchmarks had risen by more than $1, and so far this week, they have gained 1.1% and 1.6%, respectively.

Additionally, a drop in Libyan exports and the prospect of lower Iraqi crude production in September are expected to help keep the oil market undersupplied.

Over half of Libya’s oil production, around 700,000 barrels per day (bpd), was halted on Thursday, and exports were suspended at several ports due to a standoff between rival political factions.

Elsewhere, Iraq plans to reduce oil output in September as part of a plan to compensate for producing over the quota agreed with the Organization of the Petroleum Exporting Countries and its allies, a source with direct knowledge of the matter told Reuters on Thursday.

Iraq, which produced 4.25 million bpd in July, will cut output to between 3.85 million and 3.9 million bpd next month, the source said.