Ecuador has entered into a strategic partnership with the Abu Dhabi National Oil Company (ADNOC), marking the first time that EP Petroecuador will operate within Abu Dhabi’s commercial oil trading ecosystem. This development follows an official visit by President Daniel Noboa to the United Arab Emirates.
The agreement was formalized through a Memorandum of Understanding signed by Sultan Al Jaber, CEO of ADNOC, and Inés Manzano, Ecuador’s Minister of Environment and Energy. It outlines plans for ADNOC to purchase Ecuadorian crude oil over the medium and long term. The deal also establishes frameworks for joint marketing strategies, allowing Ecuador direct access to refined fuels from one of the world’s major energy hubs while bypassing intermediaries.
ADNOC is involved in all stages of the oil value chain, including production, refining, storage, maritime transport, and marketing across key markets in Asia, Europe, and Africa.
According to officials, Ecuador stands to gain several immediate benefits from this alliance. First, it provides access to high-profile buyers as Ecuadorian crude can now be negotiated directly with a global state-owned oil company rather than relying on intermediaries. Second, the agreement enables medium- and long-term supply contracts that are expected to enhance national energy security by reducing dependence on spot markets and stabilizing both supply and costs. Third, it allows Ecuador to import diesel, gasoline, or other derivatives directly from ADNOC, thereby diversifying suppliers and minimizing supply risks.
“This agreement sets out a roadmap for ADNOC to buy Ecuadorian oil in the medium and long term and develop joint commercialization schemes that allow Ecuador access to refined fuels without intermediaries from one of the world’s largest energy hubs,” said Sultan Al Jaber.
The initiative is part of President Noboa’s new economic diplomacy approach aimed at repositioning Ecuador as a reliable partner amid increasing global energy fragmentation and competition for markets. By linking up with ADNOC—a major player in global investment in energy transition and logistics—Ecuador is expanding its role beyond selling crude oil by joining an international network of energy trade.
