Ruwais Fertilizer Industries (FERTIL), a member of ADNOC Group of companies, was established in October 1980 as a joint venture between Abu Dhabi National Oil Company (ADNOC) and TOTAL, with a shareholding ratio of 2:1 respectively. Construction of a processing plant began in 1980 and production started in December 1983. The prime objective behind establishing the company was to utilize the lean gas supplied from the onshore fields of BAB, ASAB and Thammama-C, to manufacture fertilizers and to market them locally and internationally.