Aramco signs US$12.4 billion infra deal, forms new subsidiary with EIG-led consortium

Saudi public petroleum and gas company, Aramco has signed a deal with a consortium led by EIG Global Energy Partners (EIG), global energy infrastructure investors, to optimise its assets through a lease-and-lease-back agreement involving its stabilized crude oil pipeline network.

Upon closing, Aramco will receive an estimated US$12.4 billion.  As part of the transaction, a newly-formed entity, Aramco Oil Pipelines Company, where Aramco will hold a 51% majority stake and the EIG-led consortium will hold a 49% stake, is to lease usage rights of Aramco’s stabilised crude oil pipeline network over a 25-year period. In return, Aramco Oil Pipelines Company will receive a tariff payable by Aramco for the stabilised crude oil that flows through the network, backed by minimum volume commitments.

Aramco will continue to retain full ownership and operational control of its stabilised crude oil pipeline network. The transaction will not impose any restrictions on Aramco’s actual crude oil production volumes that are subject to production decisions issued by the Kingdom