Abdulla Ateya Al Messabi will be joining as the new chief executive of Adnoc Drilling following the retirement of Abdulrahman Abdulla Al Seiari

Abu Dhabi’s main oil company is evaluating whether it can buy some of BP Plc’s key assets should the embattled British firm decide to break itself up or come under pressure to divest more units, according to people with knowledge of the matter.

A promise to develop Santos’ Narrabri gas project for the domestic market could be the key piece of leverage that the Abu Dhabi consortium holds in overcoming political resistance to the $30bn takeover.

ADNOC Gas said on Tuesday it had taken a final investment decision on the first phase of its Rich Gas Development (RGD) Project, awarding $5 billion in contracts to expand and improve efficiency at the project.

Abdulla Ateya Al Messabi will be joining as the new chief executive of Adnoc Drilling following the retirement of Abdulrahman Abdulla Al Seiari

Borouge was established in 1998 through a strategic partnership between ADNOC and Borealis. The company was formed to build and operate a petrochemical complex in Al Ruwais Industrial City​, United Arab Emirates, with a sales and marketing business in Singapore, according to the company’s website.

A protracted period of underperformance relative to its industry peers has thrust BP into the spotlight as a prime takeover candidate.

Al Messabi brings a wealth of industry experience and a track record in leadership and value creation in diversified and challenging aspects across the energy sector