UAE - Mubasher: Natural gas will have a key role in accelerating the UAE's economic growth in the upcoming 50 years, the UAE Minister of Industry and Advanced Technology and Managing Director and Group CEO of the Abu Dhabi National Oil Company (ADNOC), Sultan Ahmed Al Jaber, announced on Tuesday.

This announcement was made in the opening address of Gastech 2021, being held on 21-23 September 2021 in Dubai.

Al Jaber said that the UAE is fostering its position as a regional leader in natural gas and the emerging blue Hydrogen market for their importance in balancing economic growth with environmental protection.

The minister added that the UAE has led the region in exploring economic uses for gas, establishing a liquefied natural gas (LNG) plant, and producing ultra-sour gas at an industrial scale.

The country was also ranked first in storing carbon dioxide (CO2) and using it in enhanced oil recovery (EOR) to liberate more gas.

Al Jaber further remarked that The UAE is in progress to achieve gas self-sufficiency as ADNOC is expanding into unconventional gas, as part of its integrated gas strategy launched in 2018.

The ADNOC CEO has invited new and existing partners to explore the opportunities in the UAE’s gas industry.

Al Jaber said: "At the heart of this goal, is the expansion of our producing assets, like Shah and the development of new ones, like the unique Umm Shaif gas cap and the Hail, Ghasha and Dalma project."

The minister further remarked: "Already at ADNOC, we produce about 300,000 tons of hydrogen a year. By leveraging our existing gas infrastructure and commercial-scale CCUS capabilities, the UAE can and will become a major player in the emerging blue hydrogen market."