Aramco signed a deal with a consortium led by EIG Global Energy Partners, one of the world’s leading energy infrastructure investors, to optimize its assets through a lease-and-lease-back agreement involving its stabilized crude oil pipeline network, the company announced on Saturday.
Upon closing, Aramco will receive upfront proceeds of around $12.4 billion, further strengthening its balance sheet through one of the largest energy infrastructure deals globally.
As part of the transaction, a newly-formed Aramco subsidiary, Aramco Oil Pipelines Company, will lease usage rights in Aramco’s stabilized crude oil pipelines network for a 25-year period.
In return, Aramco Oil Pipelines Company will receive a tariff payable by Aramco for the stabilized crude oil that flows through the network, backed by minimum volume commitments.
Aramco will hold a 51% majority stake in the new company and the EIG-led consortium will hold a 49% stake.
'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,' the company said.
By Murat Temizer
Anadolu Agency
energy@aa.com.tr