Abu Dhabi Seeks Higher Crude Export Revenue

$3.1 billion upgrade of Ruwais refinery will boost Adnoc’s exports of Murban crude

- Anthony DiPaola

Abu Dhabi, which holds most of the oil reserves in the U.A.E., plans to boost exports of its highest quality crude into the next decade following a $3.1 billion upgrade of its Ruwais refinery.

Flagship Murban crude fetches the highest price of the emirate’s three grades because it’s easier to refine and yields greater amounts of premium fuels like gasoline. Abu Dhabi National Oil Co. plans to upgrade Ruwais on the United Arab Emirates coast, allowing it to switch to cheaper lower-quality alternatives from offshore fields, the company said in a statement. The refinery currently processes only Murban crude, equivalent to about half of total production of the grade.