UAE’s giant LNG project lines up new deal as Inpex and ADNOC strengthen ties

July 7, 2026, by Melisa Cavcic

Inpex Energy Trading Singapore (IETS), a Singapore-based subsidiary of Japan’s largest exploration and production (E&P) player Inpex, has struck a new deal with ADNOC Ruwais Liquefied Natural Gas (ARLNG), an UAE-based subsidiary of Abu Dhabi National Oil Company (ADNOC).

Rendering of the Ruwais LNG concept design; Source: ADNOC

Inpex has signed a long-term LNG sales and purchase agreement (SPA) with Ruwais LNG, further fortifying its longstanding relationship with ADNOC. This project, which is set to start operations in 2028 with a capacity of 9.6 million tonnes per year, is currently under development in Al Ruwais Industrial City, Abu Dhabi.

With two 4.8 million tonnes per annum (mtpa) liquefaction trains, the facility is expected to more than double the UAE heavyweight’s existing LNG production capacity to approximately 15 mtpa, supporting its strategy to expand its LNG portfolio to meet rising global demand.

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The Japanese firm’s INPEX Vision 2035, announced in February 2025, highlights the company’s goal of boosting its LNG portfolio and supplying LNG more flexibly to complement the supply from its projects.

The SPA with ADNOC is perceived as aligned with this initiative and represents an important step toward achieving the Asian player’s aims.

This comes shortly after Inpex sealed a deal with TotalEnergies to buy the French giant’s interest in Block 2E offshore Malaysia, representing a net interest of 8.5% in the Shell-operated Marjoram gas field.