The Abu Dhabi National Oil Company (ADNOC) has announced a partnership with Edge Group, an advanced technology group headquartered in Abu Dhabi, to deploy UAE-made uncrewed aerial vehicles (UAVs) across its onshore and offshore operations.
Under the partnership, Edge’s autonomous systems arm, Abu Dhabi Autonomous Systems Investment (ADASI), will repurpose its existing UAVs for ADNOC to use in its operations, to minimize emissions and enhance environmental performance, monitor operations, and provide support in emergency response situations.
“This innovative partnership underscores how we are leveraging technology to accelerate decarbonization across our operations,” said Saleh Hashem Alhashmi, director of group commercial and in-country value at ADNOC. “Equipped with the latest imaging technology, Edge’s unmanned aerial vehicles will support us in stopping greenhouse-gas emissions. These drones can cover vast areas and will reduce the need to mobilize equipment and personnel to potentially harmful environments.”
As part of the collaboration, ADNOC and ADASI plan to enter into a commercial partnership agreement that will allow the deployment of UAVs specialized in greenhouse-gas leak detection and detailed inspection of site assets and infrastructure.
“We are delighted to partner with ADNOC to deploy unmanned systems which will address crucial environmental concerns and drive sustainable practices forward,” said Juma Al Kaabi, CEO of ADASI. “Enhancing capabilities is a priority for both Edge and ADASI, and we look forward to deploying our autonomous systems that will ensure the safety and sustainability of onshore and offshore operations. By cooperating together, we are confident we can help transform, decarbonize, and future-proof ADNOC’s operations.”
ADNOC has allocated an initial $15 billion to lower-carbon solutions, new energies, and decarbonization technologies to reduce its carbon intensity by 25% by 2030 and enable its ambition to achieve Net Zero by 2045. The company said that, as it decarbonizes its operations, it is localizing its supply chain and promoting domestic manufacturing of critical industrial products.