ADNOC Distribution, a subsidiary of Adnoc, engaged in the marketing and distribution of petroleum products, has announced plans to boost production to 90,000 tonnes per year in the next two to three years.

"The company is planning to increase production to 90,000 tonnes per year, within the next two to three years," Rashed Helal Al Darmaki, the firm's local Lube Sales Department Manager was quoted as saying in the Gulf News.

Currently, the company produces around 50,000 tonnes annually, including lubricants and greases, at various manufacturing plants.

Production was being enhanced to cater to the local and overseas markets.

Adnoc Distribution has about 45 per cent of the local market share and exports a sizeable part of its production overseas to as many as 40 countries, he added.

Meanwhile, the company has also been recently engaged in the building and modernising of 28 fuel and lubricants stations in the country. A total of Dh158 million ($43 million) was earmarked for this project.

At the same time, 25 new stations were built including 15 stations in Abu Dhabi and its suburbs, one in Ajman and three stations in Ras Al Khaimah.

There has also been a move to introduce a chain of new theme service stations offering payment by credit card and company electronic smart cards, in addition to the facilities of business centers and convenience store shopping.

The number of new image filling stations is progressively increasing.

These stations, the company says, are equipped with advanced technology for automated car wash and vacuuming, lube bay and tyre repair.

Of the 19 recently opened new stations were three in Sharjah, one in Ruwais, one in Ajman and six in Abu Dhabi.

Al Noor station in the traffic department area and Al Mina station in Mina street was also opened.

It is widely considered to be one of the largest stations in the city.

These new stations have been in addition to the three state-of-the-art stations in Sharjah, the western region and Ajman, built at a total cost of Dh25.5 million.

The company also owns a large network of filling stations throughout the UAE. Initially it started with 36 filling stations in Abu Dhabi.

The total number of stations in the UAE has now reached 153 of which 44 are in the Northern Emirates, 21 in the western region, 32 in Al Ain and 56 in Abu Dhabi.

The number of Adnoc Distribution filling stationsin the Northern Emirates is estimated to reach 52 by the end of this year, companysources have said.

The construction or renovation of an Adnoc filling station is estimated at between 3.0 million dirhams ($817,000) and 5 million dirhams ($1.36 million).

"Adnoc Distribution will continue on with its modernisation plans till all the stations in all parts of the UAE are renovated and carry the new corporate company identity and emblem. More stations will also be built in the country's new commercial and residential areas," says an Adnoc report, in reference to a new corporate emblem adopted.

The company was established in 1973 as the first government-owned company specialised in the marketing and distribution of petroleum products in the UAE.

Over the years, it has grown to be one of the largest petroleum companies in the Middle East.

The company's aircraft refuelling activities include the operation of refuelling terminals at Abu Dhabi International Airport and Al Bateen Airport.

The service, launched in 1982, now refuels over 50 international airlines at bases that include Fujairah, Al Ain and Sharjah International Airports.

A lubricants blending and packaging plant commissioned by the company in 1979 has furthermore expanded to become one of the best equipped plants in the region.

Entire ranges of new lubricants based on the latest international specifications are being blended and marketed locally and in the export markets including the GCC countries, the Middle East, the Far East, Africa and Europe.

Adnoc Distribution manages two fully automated LPG filling plants in Abu Dhabi and Al Ain.