Essar arm secures $500 million crude and product facility from Abu Dhabi's IRH

Essar Energy Transition Fuels (EETF), the owner and operator of the Stanlow refinery in the UK, has entered into a $500 million strategic crude sourcing and product supply facility agreement with Abu Dhabi-based IRH Global Trading, the companies said on Tuesday.

The facility is designed to diversify crude sourcing and product marketing options for EETF while optimising its working capital arrangements. The agreement is also expected to enhance feedstock security for the Stanlow refinery amid heightened volatility in global energy markets.

IRH Global Trading, a wholly owned subsidiary of International Resources Holding (IRH), will provide crude sourcing and product supply support under the arrangement. The transaction marks a significant step in Essar's strategy to deepen relationships with global energy trading partners as it expands its low-carbon energy ambitions, the company said.


The Stanlow refinery, one of the UK's largest refining complexes, forms a key part of Essar Energy Transition's plans to develop a major energy transition hub in north-west England and invest in low-carbon fuel production and industrial decarbonisation projects.

"This is a strategically important transaction for our Stanlow refinery in the UK," said Prashant Ruia, Chairman of Essar Energy Transition.

Ali Rashed Al Rashdi, Chief Executive Officer of IRH, said the partnership would help enhance supply security and operational resilience at a critical UK refining hub.

Headquartered in Abu Dhabi, IRH is a mine-to-market platform focused on minerals critical to the global energy transition. Through its trading arm, the company has been expanding its role in global energy and commodity markets.

The agreement underscores growing collaboration between Middle Eastern capital and energy trading firms and European refining assets as companies seek greater supply-chain resilience and flexibility amid shifting geopolitical and energy market dynamics.