In a commentary published by The National, Ma Wenjie, president of China National Petroleum Company (CNPC) Abu Dhabi, stated that the energy partnership between China and the UAE is evolving beyond resource trade and investment toward shared expertise, operational collaboration, and technology. As global energy demand rises alongside pressure to ensure affordability and reduce emissions, technical capability and operational efficiency have become central components of energy security.
Ma cited the partnership between CNPC and Abu Dhabi National Oil Company (ADNOC) as an example of this shift, highlighting joint efforts in reservoir management, drilling, digitalisation, and lower-carbon operations. In 2026, CNPC joined ADNOC and international partners in the Bab Gas Cap concession, which is expected to produce 1.5 billion cubic feet of gas per day. CNPC is also collaborating on the Umm Shaif Gas Cap development, projected to yield over 600 million cubic feet per day by 2030.
According to Ma, discussions across the energy industry and at ADIPEC are shifting from hypothetical future uses of artificial intelligence and robotics to practical applications delivering measurable results today, including reservoir modelling, autonomous operations, and infrastructure inspection. He emphasized that technology transfer develops through repeated collaboration and operational trust rather than one-off transactions.
Sources
- The National · 2026-11-02
