The Ruwais LNG (Liquefied Natural Gas) project being developed by UAE’s ADNOC Gas has reportedly signed a 15-year sales and purchase agreement (SPA) with Japan’s INPEX, while the TJN Ruwais consortium — comprising Technip Energies, JGC and NMDC Energy — has emerged as the front-runner for the main EPC (Engineering, Procurement and Construction) contract.
Ruwais LNG is planned as a liquefaction plant with two trains of 4.8 mtpa (million tonnes per annum) each, for a total capacity of 9.6 mtpa, it is reported. The project is being developed as an all-electric facility powered by clean electricity, positioning it as the first net-zero LNG plant in the Middle East and North Africa (MENA) region. Cryogenic storage tanks are being handled under a separate contract by CB&I, it is reported.
Total capacity is 9.6 mtpa across two 4.8 mtpa trains, with approximately 90% of the volume already secured through long-term SPAs with buyers in Asia and Europe, it is reported. A 15-year SPA for 1 million tonnes per year has been signed with INPEX, and the target for commercial start-up is early 2028.
The UAE is reportedly pursuing a strategy of linking expanded domestic gas production with increased LNG exports to meet energy demand in Asia and Europe, and Ruwais LNG is regarded as a core project within this strategy.
The pursuit of a net-zero, all-electric LNG plant illustrates a shift in response to demand from Asian and European buyers for lower-carbon LNG supply.
The timing of the final main EPC contract award, and whether additional long-term SPAs will be signed, are worth watching.