Maire Tecnimont and Saipem have signed letters of award with ADNOC for the development of the Hail and Ghasha natural gas fields offshore Abu Dhabi. The contracts are worth USD 17 billion in total, with the two Italian companies receiving USD 13 billion. ADNOC holds the majority stake (55 per cent) in the Hail and Ghasha field concession, with ENI also participating with 25 per cent. The onshore part of the contract, awarded entirely to Maire for USD 8.7 billion, entails the development of natural gas processing units, pipelines, and support facilities. The offshore component, awarded to a consortium including Saipem and the Emirates company NPCC, provides for the construction of drilling rigs, artificial islands and over 300 kilometres of subsea pipelines. The total value of the offshore deal amounts to USD 8.2 billion, half of which for Saipem. Overall, this is the largest natural gas contract ever awarded by ADNOC and the largest contract ever awarded to Maire Tecnimont.
The development of the Hail and Ghasha fields is strategic for the UAE in order to diversify the national energy sector. Once completed in 2028, the aim is to operate with zero CO2 emissions, using advanced carbon capture and recovery technologies. The award represents a historic achievement for the Italian companies, not only due to the unprecedented sums involved, but also because it recognises the value of Italian technology in a strategic sector for the region.