ABU DHABI- ExxonMobil is very impressed by Abu Dhabi National Oil Company’s growing focus on the downstream industry, according to Christian G. Lenoble, ExxonMobil President and UAE Lead Country Manager.

"The vision is comprehensive and aimed at maximising value across the value chain, not only crude oil, but also gas and petrochemicals. It’s very ambitious goal; but we are confident the capabilities we are seeing in the UAE will deliver that vision.

Doubling the refining capacity in Ruwais and tripling the petrochemical capacity will be a great achievement to secure such a growth," Lenoble told Emirates News Agency (WAM) on the sidelines of the 21st edition of Abu Dhabi International Petroleum Exhibition and Conference (ADIPEC). ADIPEC, which opened yesterday at the Abu Dhabi National Exhibition Centre (ADNEC), is being held under the patronage of President His Highness Sheikh Khalifa bin Zayed Al Nahyan, and hosted by ADNOC. Lenoble has confirmed the US oil giant’s determination to ramp up investments in the UAE over the next years. "We are looking for opportunities with ADNOC and trying to develop solutions that can bring value to the UAE and obviously to our company in ExxonMobil. On Upper Zakum, which is the biggest offshore field in the world, we are going to significantly increase production over the next five years. There will be significant increase in investments. And we are looking forward to partnering further with ADNOC on the Vision 2030."

"Part of this partnership is focused on human resources," Leoble explained. "We have been in the UAE for more than 80 years, and over the past several years we have been in strong cooperation with ADNOC. In 2006 we went into partnership Upper Zakum,and since then we have been together developing technical partnerships to add value and optimise the performance required for the production of that field. "Since 2006, we have provided some 8,000 days of training in the ExxonMobil technical training curriculum for ADNOC and its joint venture operating companies to develop their local resources and build their capacities. ExxonMobil is also providing developmental assignments for UAE nationals in the ExxonMobil organisation, allowing Emiratis to gain hands-on experience of our processes, technologies, mentoring and best practices sharing. Over the past 10 years, 50 Emiratis have had development assignments at ExxonMobil offices in Houston and around the world. We are committed to making a positive and lasting contribution based on mutual trust and respect," he added.

"As part of our agreement with ADNOC, we spent a lot of time on mentorship. We have developed a technology centre at ADNOC Offshore building. We’re using state-of-the-art technology, virtual reality, reservoir simulation with our experts coming here to share their experience."

Lenoble praised the growing importance being attached by ADNOC to digitalisation. "The digital era presents a growing opportunity to make the exchange of information with our customers and our supply exchange partners more efficient. And I’m very impressed by the level of technology utilized by ADNOC in terms of digitalisation, artificial intelligence and optimisation of capital and human resources."

© Copyright Emirates News Agency (WAM) 2018.