Qatar Petroleum to Build World-Scale Petrochemicals Complex, Including Middle East's Largest Ethane Cracker

Doha, May 15 (QNA) - Qatar Petroleum (QP) announced on Tuesday the development and operation of a new world scale Petrochemicals Complex at Ras Laffan Industrial City, which will include an ethane cracker with more than 1.6 million tonnes per year (MTPA) of ethylene, making it the largest unit of its kind in the Middle East and one of the largest units in the world. Qatar Petroleum has invited a group of leading international companies, with extensive experiences in the petrochemicals industry, to submit proposals for partnering with Qatar Petroleum in the development and operation of the new complex. The Petrochemicals Complex will also include world-class derivative plants, which will consolidate Qatars position among the leading petrochemicals producers in the world markets. The engineering design of the Petrochemicals Complex should commence shortly, leading to a planned start-up in 2025. Commenting on the event, President and CEO of Qatar Petroleum Eng. Saad Sherida Al Kaabi said that this development is a first step towards the launch of a new world scale Petrochemicals Complex at Ras Laffan, marking another important milestone for Qatar Petroleum. Al Kaabi added that petrochemicals represent a major pillar of QP growth strategy to achieve its vision of becoming one of the best national oil companies in the world, noting that the project will complement QP efforts to implement its strategy, and will enable Qatar Petroleum to further expand its footprint in the global petrochemicals markets. The feedstock for the Petrochemical Complex will be ethane produced primarily from the new North Field LNG expansion project that will produce an additional 23 MTPA of LNG, as well as from existing gas projects producing ethane. Qatar Petroleum is an integrated national oil corporation responsible for the sustainable development of the oil and gas industry in the State of Qatar and beyond. Qatar Petroleums activities encompass the entire spectrum of the oil and gas value chain locally, regionally, and internationally, and include the exploration, refining, production, marketing and sales of oil and gas, liquefied natural gas (LNG), natural gas liquids (NGL), gas to liquids (GTL) products, refined products, petrochemicals, fertilizers, steel and aluminum. (QNA)