Aramco Enters LNG Market Investing $500 Million in MidOcean Energy

After dominating the oil markets for many decades, Aramco, one of the world’s leading integrated energy and chemicals companies, has announced that it has signed definitive agreements to acquire a strategic minority stake in MidOcean Energy for $500 million.

MidOcean Energy is a newly formed global liquefied natural gas (LNG) company managed by EIG, a leading institutional investor in the global energy and infrastructure sectors. EIG has offices in the US, the UK, South Korea, Hong Kong, and Brazil.

MidOcean Energy is currently in the process of acquiring interests in four Australian LNG projects, with a growth strategy to create a diversified global LNG business. The strategic partnership with MidOcean Energy marks Aramco’s first international investment in LNG.

The agreement builds on the relationship between Aramco and EIG, which was part of a consortium that acquired a 49% stake in Aramco Oil Pipelines Company, a subsidiary of Aramco, in 2021.

Completion of the transaction is subject to closing conditions which include regulatory approvals. Aramco also has the option to increase its shareholding and associated rights in MidOcean Energy in the future.

Amin H Nasser, Aramco President & CEO, said that they were pleased to strengthen their strategic partnership with EIG through this acquisition, which marks Aramco’s first international investment in LNG.

“We anticipate strong demand-led growth for LNG as the world continues on its energy transition journey, with gas being a vital fuel and feedstock in various industries. We believe that gas will be important in meeting the world’s rising need for secure, accessible, and more sustainable energy,” Nasser said.

Significant Opportunities

Nasir K Al-Naimi, Aramco Upstream President, described the agreement as an important step in Aramco’s strategy to become a leading global LNG player.

“We see significant opportunities in this market, which is positioned for structural, long-term growth. MidOcean Energy is well-equipped to capitalise on rising LNG demand, and this strategic partnership reflects our willingness to work with leading international players to identify and unlock new opportunities at a global level,” he added.

According to Blair Thomas, EIG Chairman and CEO, energy transition informs every investment decision they make, and they believe LNG has a key role to play in enabling an orderly transition that balances society’s twin goals of decarbonization and energy security.

“Concurrent with that, we believe the LNG industry is ripe for change and there is a role for a nimble, pure-play company like MidOcean Energy. While our initial focus is on the announced transactions in Australia, we believe the opportunity set is global. We are excited to expand our existing partnership with Aramco to include this important initiative,” he added.

De la Rey Venter, MidOcean Energy CEO, said that it was an honour for MidOcean Energy to have Aramco as a key shareholder and strategic partner. MidOcean Energy shares the conviction that LNG is an integral enabler of the global energy transition, and they believed that the global LNG industry has strong fundamentals for many decades to come.

“Synergistic partnerships are core to how MidOcean Energy will do business, grow, and thrive. In Aramco, we have a partner that has long-term thinking in its DNA and an unwavering commitment to enduring collaborations. We look forward to pursuing many new opportunities together,” Rey Venter added.