The MERAM project is a $3.6 billion gas processing expansion at ADNOC Gas’s Habshan complex in Abu Dhabi, designed to boost ethane extraction by up to 40% and pipe natural gas liquids to the Ruwais Industrial Complex via a dedicated 120-kilometre NGL line. By the first half of 2025, the project had reached peak construction activity, with ADNOC Gas reporting that capital investments for the full year 2025 were expected to reach approximately $3 billion, a substantial increase on the prior year driven specifically by MERAM nearing its startup window. The EPC completion target, initially set for Q3 2025, was revised to Q4 2025 during the company’s Q2 2024 financial results, with commissioning and handover activities now well advanced.

From Habshan to Ruwais: Feeding the Petrochemicals Chain

The project’s output is directly linked to the Borouge 4 petrochemicals complex currently under construction at Ruwais, with MERAM expected to supply 2.2 million tonnes per annum of ethane and 1.2 million tonnes of NGLs once operational. The scope also expanded beyond what was disclosed at contract award: the full pipeline network now covers approximately 150 kilometres, encompassing tie-ins and brownfield works across multiple ADNOC Gas facilities including Asab, Bab, Bu Hasa, and several Habshan trains. A new LNG pre-conditioning plant within the Habshan 5 complex was also added to the scope in early 2025 to treat gas originating from MERAM’s new processing units. ADNOC Gas, which manages one of the world’s largest gas processing operations, is simultaneously advancing its Upper Zakum offshore expansion with EPCI contractors NMDC Energy, McDermott, and Saipem, illustrating the scale of ADNOC’s parallel upstream and downstream infrastructure push across Abu Dhabi.

Project Overview

• Project Name: Maximizing Ethane Recovery and Monetization (MERAM) Project
• Location: Habshan Gas Processing Complex, Al Gharbia, Abu Dhabi, UAE
• Developer / Owner: ADNOC Gas plc
• Total Cost / Value: US$3.6 billion (AED 13.1 billion)
• Scale / Capacity: 2.2 million tonnes per annum of ethane; 1.2 million tonnes per annum of NGLs; 150 km of pipelines; 12 industrial processing buildings
• Construction Start: August 2023 (EPC execution commenced same month as contract award)
• Expected Completion: Q4 2025 (revised from original Q3 2025 target)
• Funding / Financing: ADNOC Gas corporate balance sheet; 70% of contract value returned to UAE economy via ICV program
• Current Status: Peak construction activity completed; commissioning phase underway
• Key Milestone: Borouge 4 ethane supply target of 2 million tonnes per annum confirmed as operational benchmark for startup

Project Team

• ADNOC Gas plc — Client and Project Owner
• NPCC (National Petroleum Construction Company) — EPC Joint Venture Contractor
• Técnicas Reunidas — EPC Joint Venture Contractor
• Worley — FEED and Pre-FEED Consultant
• Borouge — Offtaker (Borouge 4 petrochemicals complex, Ruwais)
• Taziz — Offtaker (derivative chemicals plants, Ruwais)
• CUMIC Steel — Steel Fabrication Supplier (sphere petal plates)
• Abu Dhabi National Oil Company (ADNOC) — Parent Group and Strategic Oversight
• UAE Ministry of Energy and Infrastructure — Regulatory Authority

Reported 10th August 2023: The MERAM Project In The UAE has officially awarded its contract to a joint venture. A unit of Abu Dhabi National Oil Company, ADNOC, awarded the contract to the Spanish group Technicas Reunidas and NPCC (National Petroleum Construction Company). 

An official statement from ADNOC noted that the project’s scope of work comprises the commissioning of new gas processing facilities. This, in turn, will further serve extended supply to the Ruwais Industrial Complex. 

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The MERAM Project In The UAE’s Contract Value

The MERAM Project In The UAE boasts a contract value of $3.6 billion. Moreover, a press release statement noted that up to 70% of its award value will flow back into the region’s economy. The official statement further unveiled that the significant economical benefit is a result of ADNOC’s successful In-Country Value (ICV) program.

In a nutshell, the Maximizing Ethane Recovery and Monetization (MERAM) project strives to achieve two major objectives. Firstly, it targets to increase the extraction of ethane by 35% to 40%. Thus, it will feature the construction of new gas facilities at the existing Hashbash complex. Secondly, the development project aims to unlock further value from existing feedstock, while delivering it to Ruwais. Therefore, the second goal will lead to the construction of a dedicated 120-kilometer gas liquids (NGL) pipeline. 

While commenting on the project’s progress, the CEO of ADNOC Gas noted that it represents and serves as a reflection of the company’s commitment to investing in gas processing infrastructure. Furthermore, Ahmed Mohamed Alebri said that it highlights ADNOC’s motivation to responsibly meet current as well as future energy demand, especially for natural gas. Conclusively, the CEO noted that expanding gas processing infrastructure will lead to the provision of additional energy to the country, as well as stimulate diversification, alongside economic growth.