Al Ghurair Investment and ETA Ascon Star Group conclude $2bn deal with NOC, Libya

The companies had signed a Joint Venture framework agreement in February earlier this year confirming their intentions to form the Joint Venture Company which has now been concluded after signing of the Shareholders Agreement. The shareholder agreement was signed by Dr. Shukri Ghanem, Chairman of National Oil Corporation of Libya, and Abdullah Ahmad Al Ghurair, Chairman Al Ghurair Investments and Star Consortium.

The proposed Joint Venture Company will be incorporated and registered in one of the free zones in Dubai, with offices in Ras Lanuf, Tripoli and Dubai. The consortium is considering the DMCC, among the free zones in UAE, to set up the JV. The company will be a 50:50 Joint Venture between the Star Consortium and NOC. Ras Lanuf refinery produces 10 Million tones of refined petroleum products per year which are sold locally as well as exported to America and Europe.

The upgradation project which is estimated to cost $2bn will take five years to complete and would start immediately. It will involve revamping and refurbishment of the existing plant to increase capacity and improve efficiency as well as upgrading and expansion of the refinery, using state-of-the-art technology to improve the quality of products to meet latest international standards.

Commenting on the conclusion of the joint venture, Abdullah Ahmad Al Ghurair, Chairman of Al Ghurair, said: "This deal with Libyan National Oil Company is a major achievement for TransAsia Gas International, which clearly demonstrates its capacity to carry out work on large scale refinery projects. By winning this JV contract, the company has moved one step closer to becoming a fully integrated energy company. We are confident that and the Star Consortium, including TransAsia Gas International, would meet the expectations of our JV partners."

Syed Salahuddin, Managing Director, ETA Ascon Star Group, said: "Star Petro Energy is proud to be part of the Star Consortium in the deal with Libyan NOC to revamp one of its refineries. We will contribute our best of efforts to make this project a role model for other UAE companies seeking to spread into North African markets."

Following the Ras Lanuf deal, Al Ghurair and ETA Ascon Star Group are also pursing other investment and joint venture opportunities in Libya's Oil field services, steel and cement industries.