UAE's ADNOC Closes Acquisition of 24.9% Stake in Austria's OMV

FILE PHOTO: A worker injects a car with fuel at an ADNOC petrol station in Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates July 10, 2017. REUTERS/Stringer/File Photo
FILE PHOTO: A worker injects a car with fuel at an ADNOC petrol station in Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates July 10, 2017. REUTERS/Stringer/File Photo
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UAE's ADNOC Closes Acquisition of 24.9% Stake in Austria's OMV

FILE PHOTO: A worker injects a car with fuel at an ADNOC petrol station in Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates July 10, 2017. REUTERS/Stringer/File Photo
FILE PHOTO: A worker injects a car with fuel at an ADNOC petrol station in Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates July 10, 2017. REUTERS/Stringer/File Photo

Abu Dhabi National Oil Company (ADNOC) said on Thursday it formally closed the acquisition of a 24.9% stake in Austria's Austrian oil and gas group OMV from Abu Dhabi sovereign wealth fund Mubadala Investment Company.

"The transaction accelerates delivery of ADNOC's global chemicals growth strategy and reinforces its status as a responsible, long-term partner and growth-oriented investor," ADNOC said in a statement.

Following the successful completion of the transaction, ADNOC owns 24.9 percent of OMV, while Österreichische Beteiligungs AG (ÖBAG), an Austrian independent holding company, holds 31.5 percent, with the remaining share capital in free float.

“ADNOC is proud to become a shareholder in OMV, a leading international energy and chemicals company, with whom we share a long-standing strategic partnership. Together, we have created significant value through our joint venture Borouge, and today’s investment will unlock further value and future growth opportunities for both companies,” said Khaled Salmeen, Executive Director, Downstream Industry, Marketing and Trading at ADNOC.

“Building on our 25 percent shareholding in Borealis, this transaction marks the next transformative step as we accelerate our ambitious chemicals growth strategy, unlocking significant growth and value creation opportunities for ADNOC, OMV and their respective shareholders.”



Iraq Seeks US Investment in Gas as New Projects Target Energy Independence

Iraqi flag in front of an oil field (AFP)
Iraqi flag in front of an oil field (AFP)
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Iraq Seeks US Investment in Gas as New Projects Target Energy Independence

Iraqi flag in front of an oil field (AFP)
Iraqi flag in front of an oil field (AFP)

Iraq plans to offer 10 gas exploration blocks to US companies during an upcoming visit by Oil Minister Hayan Abdel-Ghani to the United States, he announced on Saturday.
The move is part of Baghdad's efforts to attract US investment into its energy sector, following previous licensing rounds where Chinese firms secured the majority of available fields.
The 10 gas blocks, left unclaimed following six licensing rounds, will be presented in a new bidding process, Iraqi state media said, and comes as Iraq seeks to bolster its domestic gas production.
Abdel-Ghani also said Iraq will launch a new gas investment project by the end of the year at the Al-Faihaa oil field in southern Iraq. The project, with a capacity of 125 million standard cubic feet (mscf), is a key component of Iraq's strategy to enhance its energy infrastructure.
The latest initiative follows recent agreements to develop 13 oil and gas blocks, aimed at increasing Iraq's crude and gas output to supply power plants, which currently rely heavily on Iranian gas imports.