Abu Dhabi National Oil Company (Adnoc) said it has signed three framework agreements with leading Korean energy companies Korea Gas Corporation (Kogas), Korea National Oil Company (KNOC) and GS Energy, an independent Korean energy company.

The agreements will explore upstream exploration and production opportunities, potential downstream investments and bunkering opportunities for both crude oil and liquified natural gas (LNG), said a statement from Adnoc.

The announcement comes during the official Korean visit of HH Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan, Crown Prince of Abu Dhabi and Deputy Supreme Commander of the UAE Armed Forces.

Kogas, the world’s second largest buyer of LNG, has conducted a feasibility study on LNG bunkering at Fujairah port in the northern emirate.

KNOC, which has a 30 per cent stake in Adnoc’s Al Dhafra Petroleum company, is seeking to increase oil storage in Korea by 24 million barrels until 2025; while GS Energy, an independent Korean energy company, boasts a 10 percent stake in Al Dhafra Petroleum and 3 per cent stake in Adnoc Onshore.

The agreements were signed by Dr Sultan bin Ahmad Sultan Al Jaber, Minister of State and Adnoc Group CEO, and Kogas CEO Kim Young Doo; KNOC CEO Yang Su Yeong and GS Energy CEO Huh Yongsoo.

Commenting on the deals, Dr Al Jaber said: "The UAE, Abu Dhabi and Adnoc have enjoyed excellent business relationships with Korea and the growing links between Adnoc and Korean companies are a testament to the depth and importance of those relationships, which the leadership of the UAE is keen to enhance."

"Our discussion explored domestic and international growth opportunities across a range of areas, including oil and LNG bunkering, meeting the Korea’s growing energy demands and attracting investment to our expanding upstream exploration and development operations and our downstream and gas expansion plans," he stated.

"As we successfully deliver our 2030 smart growth strategy, we will continue to work with partners who enable us to unlock and maximize value, contribute technology and help us secure access to the new centers of global demand," he added.

South Korea was the world’s eighth-largest energy consumer in 2017. According to the International Energy Agency (IEA), it imported about three million b/d of crude oil and condensate, making it the fifth-largest importer in the world.

It is highly dependent on the Middle East for its oil supply, and the region accounted for more than 82 percent of its 2017 crude oil imports, of which 11 per cent was supplied by Adnoc.

As part of Korea’s efforts to become a major liquids storage and trading hub in northeastern Asia, KNOC, through joint ventures with other firms, has been building the country’s first commercial terminals for crude oil and petroleum products at Yeosu and Ulsan, which will hold a total capacity of 36.6 million barrels.

The company operates nine state-run strategic storage facilities with 146 million barrels of capacity. As of March 2018, KNOC held 96 million barrels of strategic reserves, and about 27 million barrels of inventories are stored as international stockpiles under agreements between the Republic of Korea and other governments.-TradeArabia News Service