XRG, the international investment company of ADNOC, completed the acquisition of an additional 7.6 percent stake in Trains 4 and 5 of the Rio Grande LNG export terminal. The transaction, purchased from a BlackRock affiliate, adds to the firm’s previous indirect 11.7 percent holding in the initial three trains. This results in full exposure to the project’s five trains, which boast a combined capacity of about 30 million tonnes per annum, according to a Gulf News report.
The deal received clearance from all relevant regulators, including the Committee on Foreign Investment in the United States. XRG described North America as a core growth region for its operations owing to the area’s substantial gas resources and supportive business climate. The company’s existing investments in the region span liquefied natural gas, chemicals and advanced materials, including its stake in NOVA Chemicals as part of the Borouge International platform.
Long-term offtake contracts are in place for the additional trains, with ADNOC Trading agreeing to purchase 1.9 million tonnes per annum from Train 4 over 20 years. The project is projected to support 7,500 jobs at the peak of construction and create 700 long-term positions in the Rio Grande Valley area of Texas. These figures come from project assessments released alongside the investment announcement.
XRG was launched by ADNOC in November 2024 with an initial asset base of more than $80 billion to focus on lower-carbon energy and chemicals. The firm seeks to more than double its asset value over the next 10 years while aiming to rank among the top five global chemicals producers. Reuters detailed the company’s formation and objectives in its coverage of the launch.
Industry analysis indicates XRG is pursuing 20 million to 25 million metric tons of annual LNG capacity by 2035 through its international platforms. The UAE intends to increase its energy investments in the United States from $70 billion to $440 billion during the coming decade, according to multiple sector reports. XRG is also leading $50 billion in projects in Canada covering energy, artificial intelligence and mining.
Through its activities across the United States and Canada, XRG builds Americas platform extending UAE’s global economic reach by forging partnerships that align with rising global demand for energy solutions. The strategy emphasizes disciplined growth in areas such as gas supply for digital infrastructure and low-carbon technologies. This approach supports the UAE’s broader objective of expanding its international economic influence in key markets.
