Abu Dhabi Airports signs fuel services agreement with ADNOC

Above: (left to right) Abu Dhabi Airports’ chairman HE Ali Majed Al Mansoori and HE Abdulla Al Dhaheri, CEO of ADNOC Distribution, signing the agreement today.

The fuel services agreement will secure the provision of fuel related services at three of its airports – Abu Dhabi International, Al Ain International and Al Bateen Executive – for the next 20 years.

In line with the development of the Midfield Terminal Complex (MTC), both Abu Dhabi Airports and ADNOC Distribution through this agreement will work in close collaboration to develop the support infrastructure necessary to enhance both existing and new fuel supply capacity, supporting the growth of the aviation sector in the Emirate of Abu Dhabi.

Both Abu Dhabi Airports and ADNOC Distribution will invest in the development of a new fuel hydrant system – which is the distribution pipeline network connecting the fuel farm to the fuel distribution points- supporting the MTC as well as a new state of the art Fuel Farm. These developments will service both the new MTC as well as existing terminals delivering an increase in fuel storage capacity of 130 million litres, and an improvement in the management of fuel reserves through the latest technological advances, ultimately reducing operating cost. Stretching over 20 km, the new hydrant system will serve up to 130 aircraft stands on the ground.

The investment by both Abu Dhabi Airports and ADNOC Distribution includes:
• Delivery of a new hydrant system from both the existing and new fuel farm to 130 aircraft parking stands.
• Delivery of a new fuel farm increasing Abu Dhabi Airports capacity in terms of storage from 47 million litres to 130 million litres.
• Upgrade of the fuel pipeline from the Abu Dhabi and Ruwais refineries to the Airport
• Upgrade of the existing fuel farm currently located at Abu Dhabi International Airport.

Abu Dhabi International Airport will receive fuel via three pipelines from both the Abu Dhabi refinery and the Ruwais refinery ensuring that backup supplies will be available in the event of planned and unplanned maintenance, providing undisrupted services to the Airport.

Above: A drawing of the proposed distribution system at the Midfield Terminal Complex currently being constructed at  Abu Dhabi International Airport.

In addition to the 70,000 sqm land occupied by the existing fuel farm, Abu Dhabi Airports will make available a further 80,000 sqm of land to support the development of the new fuel farm in the East Midfield.

HE Ali Majed Al Mansoori, chairman of Abu Dhabi Airports, said: “Our airports are undergoing many significant operational upgrades beyond terminal development which, whilst not being 100% visible to the passenger, are all designed to ensure that the travel experience through Abu Dhabi is one of the best in the world. As we expand our capacity, we are pleased that a key partner such as ADNOC Distribution is onboard in our mission to achieve this objective.”

HE Abdulla Al Dhaheri, CEO of ADNOC Distribution, said: “The aviation sector in the Emirate of Abu Dhabi continues to grow at a phenomenal rate and ADNOC Distribution is proud to work with its partners to ensure that this growth is properly supported.”

Abu Dhabi Airports’ new Midfield Terminal Complex, which opens in July 2017, will increase the airport’s total capacity to more than 40 million passengers per annum.