ADNOC Acquires EMARAT Stations

Abu Dhabi National Oil Company (ADNOC) has acquired 74 service stations run by Emirates General Petroleum Corporation (EMARAT) according to local sources.

The buyout covers stations across Sharjah, Ras Al Khaimah, Ajman, Umm Al Qaiwain and Fujairah after a Memorandum of Understanding was signed on Monday by Abdulla Salem Al Dhaheri, general manager ADNOC Distribution and Adel Khalifa AL Shaer, acting general manager of EMARAT.

The agreement comes 12 months after EMARAT announced a restructuring plan in an attempt to boost profit. Despite the UAE government raising EMARAT’s capital by 50 per cent last year to counter the fuel subsidies enforced on petrol prices, the company still had debts of around 1.9 billon dirhams.

EMARAT service stations encountered problems last year when apparent logistical problems prevented petrol from being delivered. But industry insiders say EMARAT’s suppliers had refused to deliver the fuel after it delayed a payment, according to a local news source.

The signing on Monday was attended by Dr. Obaid Humaid Al Tayer, minister of state for financial affairs and EMARAT’s Chairman, and Abdullah Nasser Al Suwaidi, Adnoc director general and chairman of the board of directors of ADNOC Distribution in addition to a number of officials.