据能源世界8月3日消息,沙特阿美和其他海湾石油生产商正追随阿布扎比的脚步,计划通过出售能源资产的股份筹集数百亿美元,利用原油价格反弹吸引外国投资者。
在一个传统上拥有炼油厂、发电厂和管道的地区,这些举措突显出石油国家面临的压力,他们需要筹集资金,使收入来源多样化,并支撑受近期油价下跌和新冠疫情打击的国家财政。
两名知情人士称,在6月份以124亿美元的价格向外国投资者出售了其石油管道的重要少数股权后,沙特阿美正在考虑出售下游和上游资产。
知情人士称,沙特阿美正寻求根据一项回租安排出售其天然气管道,并可能在未来提供炼油厂、发电厂以及潜在的出口终端的股权。
其中一位消息人士称,也可能向战略投资者提供氢等上游项目的股权。
其他消息人士称,阿曼和巴林等规模较小的产油国也在考虑类似的资产出售。
一家专注于能源的投资公司的一位不愿透露姓名的高管表示:“所有石油生产商都在寻求循环利用他们投入基础设施资产的资本,并将其用于其他领域。”
“私人投资者发现这些资产很有吸引力。”
沙特阿美拒绝置评。
阿布扎比国家石油公司(ADNOC)是第一家寻求外部投资的地区石油巨头,在过去四年中,ADNOC在战略和非核心资产方面建立了合作伙伴关系,筹资超过300亿美元。
ADNOC目前正准备将其钻井业务上市,该业务在2018年的企业价值约为110亿美元,这将是其燃料分销子公司ADNOC Distribution于2017年上市后的第二次此类IPO(首次公开募股)。
据知情人士透露,ADNOC已将吸引外国投资者作为即将进行的IPO的一个关键因素,与该国提振阿布扎比股市的努力相配合。
尽管从化石燃料转向其他能源,传统能源投资仍然很受欢迎。在低利率环境下,管道和发电厂等资产可以提供长期稳定的回报。
ADNOC和沙特阿美尚未具体说明出售股权所得将用于何处。两国都在寻求投资清洁能源项目。自2019年首次公开募股以来,沙特阿美还需要确保小股东获得该公司拟议的750亿美元年度股息的股份。
ADNOC拒绝就其未来计划置评。该公司重申,2017年至2020年期间的交易收益将再投资于其核心业务和战略增长项目。
随着油价在欧佩克和其他产油国减产的支撑下徘徊在每桶70美元上方,对海湾能源资产的交易预计将加快步伐,并吸引更多投资兴趣。自今年年初以来,油价已上涨逾40%。
消息人士此前告知路透社,阿曼国有能源公司OQ正在考虑出售其钻井业务Abraj能源服务公司,并已聘请顾问出售其在葡萄牙电网运营商Ren 12%的全部股权。
一位发言人告知路透社,负责管理政府石油和天然气资产组合的巴林Nogaholding公司正在对“政府现有业务和战略计划进行全面评估”。
裘寅 摘译自 能源世界
原文如下:
Riding the oil price rebound: Gulf states to accelerate asset sales
Saudi Aramco and other Gulf oil producers are following in the footsteps of Abu Dhabi with plans to raise tens of billions of dollars through sales of stakes in energy assets, capitalising align="justify"> The moves, in a region traditionally possessive of its refineries, power plants and pipelines, highlight the pressure align="justify"> After selling a significant minority stake in its oil pipelines to foreign investors for $12.4 billion in June, Saudi Aramco is weighing selling both downstream and upstream assets, two people familiar with the matter said.
Aramco is looking to sell its gas pipelines under a leaseback arrangement, and could offer stakes in refineries, power plants, and potentially export terminals in the future, the people said.
Stakes in upstream projects such as hydrogen could also be offered to strategic investors, align="justify"> Smaller producers Oman and Bahrain are also contemplating similar asset sales, other sources said.
"All of the oil producers are looking to recycle capital that they have tied up in infrastructure assets and deploy that for other things," said a senior executive at an energy-focused investment company, who asked not to be named.
"Private investors find these assets attractive."
Saudi Aramco declined to comment.
Abu Dhabi National Oil Co (ADNOC) was the first regional oil major to seek outside investment, forming partnerships in both strategic and non-core assets to raise over $30 billion over the past four years.
ADNOC is now preparing to list its drilling business, which in 2018 had an enterprise value of about $11 billion, and would be the second such IPO of its units after its fuel distribution arm, ADNOC Distribution, was listed in 2017.
ADNOC has made attracting foreign investors a key element of the upcoming IPO, according to sources familiar with the deal, tying in with a national effort to boost the Abu Dhabi stock market.
Conventional energy investments remain popular despite the transition away from fossil fuels. Assets such as pipelines and power plants provide long-term steady returns in a low interest rate environment.
ADNOC and Aramco have not specified what they would spend the proceeds of the stake sales align="justify"> ADNOC declined to comment about its future plans. The company reiterated that proceeds from transactions between 2017 and 2020 were reinvested in its core business and strategic growth projects.
Deals for Gulf energy assets are expected to gather pace and draw more interest as oil prices, supported by output cuts made by OPEC and other oil producers, hover above $70 a barrel. Oil has gained more than 40% since the start of the year.
Oman state energy company OQ is weighing the possible sale of its drilling business, Abraj Energy Services, and has also hired advisors for the sale of its entire 12% stake in Portuguese power grid operator Ren, sources have previously told Reuters.
Bahrain's Nogaholding, which manages the government's portfolio in oil and gas assets, is in the process of a "full review of the company's existing business and strategic plans", a spokesperson told Reuters.