ADNOC Deepens African Energy Push, Joins AEW 2026 as Platinum Partner
Abu Dhabi National Oil Company, ADNOC, is strengthening its presence in Africa’s energy market as it joins African Energy Week, AEW 2026, as a Platinum Partner, following its planned $1 billion acquisition of Shell’s downstream business in South Africa.
ADNOC, one of the world’s largest energy companies, with oil production of about four million barrels per day and a global investment plan of $150 billion, will participate in AEW 2026 in Cape Town, South Africa, from October 12-16.
Its participation comes as Gulf-based energy companies increasingly expand their investments across Africa’s oil, gas, LNG, power and downstream sectors.
In July 2026, ADNOC Distribution signed a definitive agreement to acquire Shell Downstream South Africa for approximately $1 billion.
The transaction will give ADNOC Distribution access to 580 fuel stations as well as wholesale fuels, aviation and lubricants operations.
Shell Downstream South Africa sold about 3.5 billion litres of fuel and operated 360 convenience stores in 2025.
The acquisition, which is expected to be completed in 2027, is projected to increase ADNOC Distribution’s global retail network by about 55 percent to nearly 1,600 stations, while annual fuel volumes are expected to rise by approximately 20 percent.
As part of the transaction, a 28 percent interest will be allocated to a local empowerment partner and an employee stock ownership plan to meet South Africa’s broad-based Black Economic Empowerment, B-BBEE, requirements.
The Shell brand is also expected to remain in use under a long-term licensing arrangement.
South Africa will become the fourth market in which ADNOC Distribution operates a retail fuel business, following the United Arab Emirates, Saudi Arabia and Egypt.
In Egypt, ADNOC Distribution acquired a 50 percent stake in TotalEnergies Marketing Egypt in 2023.
The expansion highlights a broader strategy by Gulf energy companies to acquire downstream assets in markets where international oil majors are restructuring their portfolios and divesting selected operations.
Beyond downstream assets, ADNOC is expanding its international investment activities through XRG, its global investment company focused on energy and related strategic sectors.
XRG has reached an enterprise value of about $151 billion since its launch in 2024 and is investing across natural gas, energy infrastructure and other strategic assets.
ADNOC is also developing the 9.6 million tonnes per annum, mtpa, Ruwais LNG project in the UAE, with commercial operations targeted for 2028.
The project has already secured long-term offtake commitments covering more than 90 percent of its planned production.
ADNOC’s involvement in AEW 2026 comes amid rising Gulf investment in African energy.
Gulf Cooperation Council, GCC, countries have collectively invested more than $100 billion in Africa over the past decade, with investment increasingly targeting upstream oil and gas, LNG, infrastructure, refining, fuel distribution and other energy assets.
ADNOC’s investments in South Africa and Egypt represent some of the most visible examples of this growing Gulf-Africa energy relationship.
According to NJ Ayuk, Executive Chairman of the African Energy Chamber, ADNOC’s participation sends a strong signal about the growing attractiveness of Africa to Gulf investors.
“ADNOC’s partnership is a statement about where Gulf capital sees opportunity in African energy. When a company of this scale takes an active position here, as ADNOC has in South Africa and Egypt, it raises the profile of the entire continent as an investment destination,” Ayuk said.
As a Platinum Partner at AEW 2026, ADNOC is expected to engage with African governments, energy companies, investors and other industry stakeholders on downstream investment, energy trading and the expanding commercial relationship between Gulf and African energy markets.
The company’s participation is also expected to reinforce the growing role of Middle Eastern capital in financing and developing Africa’s energy infrastructure at a time when traditional Western investors are becoming more selective about fossil-fuel investments.
