Abu Dhabi-based Mubadala Petroleum has announced the sale of its 51 per cent interest in Petrofac Emirates to Nama Project Services, an affiliate of energy group Nama Development Enterprises, for an undisclosed sum.

Completion of the transaction is subject to conditions precedent, including the usual regulatory consents, a statement said.

Mubadala Petroleum, through its subsidiary Mubadala Petroleum Services Company, formed the Petrofac Emirates joint venture with Petrofac International in 2008 as the first United Arab Emirates joint venture company to provide a full range of engineering, design, procurement and construction services for major onshore oil and gas, refining and petrochemical projects.

This was in line with Mubadala’s mandate to establish and nurture new businesses within Abu Dhabi to diversify and build the economy.

Petrofac Emirates has now established itself as a major player in the Emirates energy sector.

In 2013, Petrofac Emirates was awarded a mega engineering, procurement, construction, transportation and commissioning contract for the Zadco Upper Zakum, UZ750 field development in Abu Dhabi, valued at approximately $3.7 billion (Petrofac Emirates’ share $2.9 billion), in addition to a $187 million onshore EPC contract for the development of the Bab Habshan-1 project and a $500 million onshore EPC contract for expansion of gas compression facilities at the Bab field.

These awards and the 700-strong Abu Dhabi-based organisation provide the foundation for the long term success of the business and its transfer to the private sector, a statement said.

Maurizio La Noce, CEO of Mubadala Petroleum, said: “Having nurtured and matured the business into a stable and profitable venture, Mubadala Petroleum’s interest is now being transferred to the UAE’s private sector, in line with Mubadala’s strategic objectives and mandate.

“Mubadala Petroleum will concentrate on its core international E&P business, and most important UAE gas supply projects. In this context, we will continue to support the Abu Dhabi based Petrofac Emirates business and will look at opportunities to leverage on our existing and strong relationship with Petrofac International to identify mutually beneficial opportunities aligned with our ambitious growth objectives in our core geographies.”

Nama, established in 1993, is one of the leading local business groups serving the oil and gas, power and water and industrial sectors of the UAE economy. The company has a strong track record of successful collaboration and partnership with major international engineering and contracting companies as well as plant and equipment manufacturers.

Matthew Hollis, managing director of Nama, said "We are very proud to have worked closely with Petrofac over the last 20 years. Their impressive performance has enabled them to grow in to one of the most successful leading EPC contractors in the world today.”

“Their UAE joint venture with our friends in Mubadala Petroleum has further enhanced this success in recent years and so for all of us at Nama it is now a great honour to have been given the opportunity to be partners in bringing Petrofac Emirates into the private sector here in Abu Dhabi,” Hollis added. – TradeArabia News Service