ADNOC signs 15-year Ruwais LNG supply deal with Japan’s Inpex
ADNOC and Inpex sign 15-year deal to supply 1 million t/yr of Ruwais LNG, deepening UAE–Japan energy partnership and supporting ADNOC’s 2035 LNG expansion.
ADNOC announced on July 7, 2026 that it has signed a 15‑year sale and purchase agreement to deliver one million tonnes per year of Ruwais LNG to Japan’s Inpex Corporation. The pact was unveiled during UAE Minister of Industry and Advanced Technology and ADNOC Group CEO Sultan Ahmed Al Jaber’s delegation visit to Japan. The agreement marks a new long‑term supply link between Abu Dhabi’s Ruwais liquefied natural gas project and a major Asian buyer.
Terms of the supply agreement
The contract commits ADNOC to supply one million metric tonnes annually from the Ruwais LNG project for 15 years beginning after the facility reaches commercial operations. The volume is sourced primarily from the Ruwais development in Abu Dhabi’s industrial city, which is being positioned as a low‑emission LNG exporter. Inpex, one of Japan’s largest upstream companies, will receive the contracted volumes under the long‑dated arrangement.
The deal follows ADNOC’s broader marketing strategy to expand access to global LNG markets and respond to long‑term demand in Asia. ADNOC said the agreement reflects market confidence in the Ruwais project and aligns with its work to increase flexible, reliable LNG supplies. Company officials highlighted the commercial and strategic value of securing stable offtake with a reputable Japanese partner.
Ruwais project timeline and capacity targets
Ruwais LNG is being developed to start commercial operations in 2028, with phased ramp‑up of output thereafter. ADNOC and its partners are targeting a marketed capacity of 47 million tonnes per year of LNG by 2035 under a wider expansion roadmap. The Ruwais facility is intended to be a material contributor to that target, delivering predictable cargoes to key Asian and global customers.
Project engineers are focusing on integrating lower‑emission technologies and operational practices to reduce the carbon intensity of exported cargoes. ADNOC has described Ruwais as a core element of its midstream and downstream growth plan, linking Abu Dhabi’s upstream gas production to global markets through modern liquefaction and logistics infrastructure.
Diplomatic and commercial context in Japan
The announcement took place while Dr. Sultan Ahmed Al Jaber led an ADNOC delegation for high‑level meetings with Japanese government officials and business leaders. The trip is part of ongoing energy cooperation between the UAE and Japan that spans decades, and the pact builds on existing bilateral relationships. Officials framed the contract as reinforcing energy security for Japan and commercial certainty for ADNOC as it scales LNG exports.
Japanese demand for reliable, diversified LNG supplies remains a structural driver of such long‑term agreements, and Inpex’s participation signals continuity in Tokyo’s procurement strategy. The transaction is positioned as a win‑win: it secures feedstock for Japan’s energy mix while helping ADNOC diversify its customer base across Asia.
Role of XRG and new LNG marketing platform
ADNOC noted the transaction is the first long‑term sale executed after launching an integrated global LNG marketing and trading platform created jointly with XRG. The platform is intended to increase commercial flexibility, broaden market reach, and enable faster delivery of cargoes to customers worldwide. Company executives said the platform strengthens ADNOC’s ability to tailor supply solutions and respond to evolving buyer needs.
Market observers expect the new marketing capability to facilitate further offtake agreements and spot sales, complementing ADNOC’s long‑term contracting strategy. The collaboration with XRG is part of a wider commercial push to position ADNOC as a major upstream supplier with full value‑chain capability from production to delivery.
Market implications and emissions profile
Analysts said the Inpex deal could encourage additional long‑dated commitments from Asian buyers seeking dependable, lower‑emission LNG cargoes. ADNOC has emphasized the Ruwais project’s focus on reduced emissions and operational efficiency, which buyers increasingly factor into procurement decisions. Long‑term contracts such as this one also support upstream investment and provide visibility for financing major liquefaction projects.
The supply agreement may influence regional pricing dynamics by adding a predictable tranche of LNG to the Asia‑Pacific supply picture from 2028 onward. It also underscores the continuing role of long‑term contracts in balancing energy security with commercial flexibility as markets transition.
The 15‑year sale and purchase agreement between ADNOC and Inpex represents another step in the UAE’s strategy to become a leading global LNG supplier while maintaining strong commercial ties with Asian importers.