Abu Dhabi National Oil Company’s (Adnoc) wholly-owned midstream subsidiary Adnoc Logistics & Services (Adnoc L&S) has signed a framework with Japan’s Inpex Corporation to explore partnerships in liquefied natural gas (LNG) bunkering.

Under the agreement, Adnoc L&S and Inpex will explore opportunities for LNG bunkering in the UAE, as well as the potential to jointly expand LNG bunkering activities to cover other regions - including Southeast Asia.

Adnoc and Inpex have a well-established partnership since 1973, with Inpex’s participation in the Umm Shaif and the Lower Zakum fields, within the former Abu Dhabi Marine Areas (ADMA) concession.

Inpex joined in the development of three other offshore oil fields: Upper Zakum field in 1977, Umm al-Dalkh in 1978 and Satah in 1980.

In February this year, Adnoc awarded Inpex a participating interest in the Lower Zakum offshore concession, as well as a 25-year extension of the Satah and Umm al-Dalkh offshore concession.

Adnoc Group CEO Sultan al-Jaber also visited Japan in April to discuss strengthening the energy cooperation between Abu Dhabi and Tokyo.