ADNOC Awards $975 Mln Contract to Develop Offshore Field in UAE

The project involves dredging, land reclamation, and marine construction for artificial island G at the Lower Zakum field offshore.  (Asharq Al-Awsat)
The project involves dredging, land reclamation, and marine construction for artificial island G at the Lower Zakum field offshore. (Asharq Al-Awsat)
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ADNOC Awards $975 Mln Contract to Develop Offshore Field in UAE

The project involves dredging, land reclamation, and marine construction for artificial island G at the Lower Zakum field offshore.  (Asharq Al-Awsat)
The project involves dredging, land reclamation, and marine construction for artificial island G at the Lower Zakum field offshore. (Asharq Al-Awsat)

UAE’s ADNOC Offshore has awarded a 3.588 billion dirhams ($975 million) artificial island construction contract to ADNOC Logistics & Services (ADNOC L&S).

The project involves dredging, land reclamation, and marine construction for artificial island G at the Lower Zakum field offshore.

ADNOC L&S is primed to execute major offshore engineering, procurement, and construction contracts. “The EPC market is expected to experience substantial growth in the region in the coming years,” the company said.

The company offers a range of services to its customers while facilitating the growth of ADNOC Group’s upstream and downstream operations.

This is the maritime logistics company’s first major contract after being listed on the Abu Dhabi Securities Exchange last week.

“This contract award for the construction of the artificial island exemplifies our strategy to tap into new growth areas, showcasing the expanding range of services we offer to our customers and the trust that ADNOC Offshore has placed in us as their partner of choice,” Abdulkareem Al-Masabi, CEO of ADNOC L&S said.

The contract is part of Lower Zakum’s long-term development plan that seeks to unlock greater value while helping to meet the increasing global energy demand safely and sustainably.

ADNOC Offshore has extensive experience in deploying the artificial island concept for project delivery, resulting in significant cost savings and environmental benefits compared to conventional approaches that require more offshore installations and infrastructure.

The company has a fleet of 245 vessels and manages around 540 ships annually, in addition to its 1.5 million-square-meter integrated logistics base in Abu Dhabi.

ADNOC L&S expects growth of average annual earnings before interest, taxes, depreciation, and amortization. This growth will be driven by new contract awards, further expansion of the Integrated Logistics Services Platform, and optimized re-use of jack-up barges.



Gold Extends Slide to 1-week Low on Curbed Safety Demand, Stronger Dollar

A view shows an ingot of 99.99 percent pure gold in a workroom during production at Krastsvetmet precious metals plant in the Siberian city of Krasnoyarsk, Russia, May 23, 2024. REUTERS/Alexander Manzyuk/File Photo
A view shows an ingot of 99.99 percent pure gold in a workroom during production at Krastsvetmet precious metals plant in the Siberian city of Krasnoyarsk, Russia, May 23, 2024. REUTERS/Alexander Manzyuk/File Photo
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Gold Extends Slide to 1-week Low on Curbed Safety Demand, Stronger Dollar

A view shows an ingot of 99.99 percent pure gold in a workroom during production at Krastsvetmet precious metals plant in the Siberian city of Krasnoyarsk, Russia, May 23, 2024. REUTERS/Alexander Manzyuk/File Photo
A view shows an ingot of 99.99 percent pure gold in a workroom during production at Krastsvetmet precious metals plant in the Siberian city of Krasnoyarsk, Russia, May 23, 2024. REUTERS/Alexander Manzyuk/File Photo

Gold prices extended declines on Tuesday, hitting a more than one-week low, pressured by a jump in US dollar and easing safe-haven demand after reports of a possible Lebanon-Israel ceasefire.

Spot gold was down 0.4% at $2,614.56 per ounce as of 0845 GMT, after hitting its lowest since Nov. 18 earlier in the session. US gold futures edged 0.1% lower to $2,614.80, Reuters reported.

The precious metal fell 3.2% on Monday, its deepest one-day decline in more than five months, on news that Israel looked set to approve a US plan for a ceasefire with the Iran-backed Hezbollah, with further pressure from Trump's nomination of Scott Bessent as the US Treasury secretary.

Meanwhile, the Kremlin said it had noted that Trump's circle was speaking about a potential peace plan for Ukraine.

"This has reduced the geopolitical risk premium, leading to a decline in gold prices," said Soni Kumari, a commodity strategist at ANZ, adding that a stronger US dollar is also weighing on investor appetite for gold. The dollar was up by 0.3%, after US President-elect Donald Trump vowed tariffs against Mexico, Canada and China, reducing gold's appeal for holders of other currencies.

"So now the focus will shift back to, what Fed is going to do in December meeting," Kumari said. Federal Reserve Bank of Minneapolis President Neel Kashkari, typically on the hawkish end of the US central bank's policy spectrum, said he is open to cutting rates again next month.

Traders will also keep a close eye on US consumer confidence data and the minutes from the Fed's November meeting later in the day.

"I expect gold to trade in a narrow range in the short term, with a slight upward drift," Matt Simpson, a senior analyst at City Index said.

Spot silver slipped by 0.1% to $2,614.80 per ounce, platinum shed 1.1% to $928.40 and palladium was down 0.2% to $971.10.