Qatari Newspapers Editorials

Doha, January 09 (QNA) - Qatari newspapers on Monday highlighted the importance of the Final Investment Decision (FID) signed by QatarEnergy to build the Ras Laffan Petrochemicals complex at Ras Laffan Industrial City, further reinforcing Qatar's position as a major player in the global energy market. The Qatari dailies referred to the new investment of Qatar Energy as the largest ever in the petrochemical industry in Qatar, and the first direct investment in 12 years, noting that it will double Qatar’s ethylene production capacity, and will raise the local polymer production from 2.6 to more than 4 million tons per annum, while placing the utmost emphasis on sustainable growth and the environment. Al-Arab newspaper said that QatarEnergy continues to establish its position as a major player in the global energy market, noting the announcement of signing the Final Investment Decision (FID) to build the Ras Laffan Petrochemicals complex - a $6 billion integrated olefins and polyethylene facility at Ras Laffan Industrial City - in partnership with Chevron Phillips Chemical (CPChem). The paper noted that the new agreement is an extension of previous major agreements signed by QatarEnergy, including an agreement it recently signed with ConocoPhillips to supply 2 million tons of liquefied natural gas to Germany per annum. Such agreements ensure Qatar's significant role in meeting the increasing global LNG demand, and maintain its pioneering position as a stable and reliable supplier, especially for Asia and Europe, Al-Arab stressed. Over the past two years, the State of Qatar has reinforced its superior position as the biggest LNG exporter globally. Thanks to its well-studied plans and coordinated strategy, the State has been able to meet the needs of many global markets. Meanwhile, Qatar continues its endeavor towards dependence on clean energy and reducing carbon emissions by adopting the highest environmental standards in the gas industry, which enhances its contribution to the global trend towards clean energy, Al-Arab concluded. Qatari daily Al-Sharq noted that the signing of the Final Investment Decision (FID) by QatarEnergy and Chevron Phillips Chemical (CPChem) to build the Ras Laffan Petrochemicals complex at Ras Laffan Industrial City, marks an important milestone in QatarEnergy's downstream expansion strategy. The paper explained that the Ras Laffan Petrochemicals complex consists of an ethane cracker with a capacity of 2.1 million tons of ethylene per annum, making it the largest in the Middle East and one of the largest in the world. It also includes two polyethylene trains with a combined output of 1.7 million tons per annum of High-Density Polyethylene (HDPE) polymer products, raising Qatar's overall petrochemical production capacity to almost 14 million tons per annum. Al-Sharq referred to the assertion of HE Minister of State for Energy Affairs, President and CEO of QatarEnergy Eng. Saad bin Sherida Al Kaabi that the project marks QatarEnergy's largest investment ever in Qatar's petrochemicals sector and the first direct investment in 12 years. It will double Qatar's ethylene production capacity, and increase the local polymer production from 2.6 to more than 4 million tons per annum, while placing the utmost emphasis on sustainable growth and the environment. This cornerstone investment in Ras Laffan Industrial City marks an important milestone in QatarEnergy's downstream expansion strategy, and will reinforce its integrated position as a major global player in the upstream, LNG, and downstream sectors. This will be further enhanced once the new world-scale petrochemical project in Orange, Texas, in the United States of America comes online in partnership with Chevron Phillips Chemical, executed by our joint venture Golden Triangle Polymers Company, Al-Sharq said. For its part, Al-Watan newspaper said in its editorial that the Ras Laffan Petrochemicals Complex, a USD 6 billion integrated olefins and polyethylene facility at Ras Laffan Industrial City, in partnership with Chevron Phillips Chemical (CPChem) is one of the world's largest ethane cracking projects, with a capacity of 2.1 million tons of ethylene per annum. It also includes two polyethylene trains with a combined output of 1.7 million tons per annum of High-Density Polyethylene (HDPE) polymer products, raising Qatar's overall petrochemical production capacity to almost 14 million tons per annum. Qatar Energy's new investment marks the largest investment ever in Qatar's petrochemicals sector and the first direct investment in 12 years. It will double Qatar's ethylene production capacity, increase local polymer production from 2.6 to more than 4 million tons per annum, and place the utmost emphasis on sustainable growth and the environment. This cornerstone investment in Ras Laffan Industrial City marks an important milestone in QatarEnergy's downstream expansion strategy. It will not only facilitate further expansion in the downstream and petrochemical sectors in Qatar but will also reinforce its integrated position as a major global player in the upstream, LNG, and downstream sectors, the paper added. Al-Watan concluded by saying that Qatar intends to increase its LNG production capacity through the development of the North Field, after it has established its global position as a reliable source of clean energy for all its global partners and has a series of long-term agreements with many partners to supply LNG, leading to a successful and rewarding relationship for all parties. Al-Raya newspaper stressed in its editorial that day after day, the State of Qatar strengthens its position on the global energy throne with insightful visions, deliberate plans, and hard work. Hardly any short time passes without a new achievement, a major deal, a giant project, or a promising partnership to benefit the people of Qatar and the people of their trusted partners. In this regard, the newspaper indicated that Qatar Energy and CPChem signed the Final Investment Decision (FID) Sunday to establish the Ras Laffan Petrochemicals Complex, a USD 6 billion integrated facility, opening up promising prospects for strengthening Qatar's position in the energy sector by raising its overall petrochemical production capacity to almost 14 million tons per annum. The new complex is QatarEnergy's largest investment ever in Qatar's petrochemicals sector and the first direct investment in 12 years, representing an important milestone in QatarEnergy's downstream expansion strategy and reinforcing its integrated position as a major global player in the upstream, LNG, and downstream sectors. This will be further enhanced once the new world-scale petrochemical project in Orange, Texas, in the United States of America comes online in partnership with Chevron Phillips Chemical, executed by their joint venture Golden Triangle Polymers Company, Al-Raya continued. In conclusion, Al-Raya said, Qatar opens a new golden page in its leadership record in the energy sector, regionally and globally, and confirms that reaching and maintaining the top for decades under the vision of wise leadership and the will of a loyal people, is not impossible. In turn, the English-language newspaper The Peninsula praised Qatar's environmental plans to increase green spaces in the country. Qatar aims to plant 10 million trees as part of Qatar National Vision 2030 to reduce its carbon footprint. In its editorial entitled "Increasing green spaces," the newspaper said that the measures by the Public Parks Department at the Ministry of Municipality to overcome the challenges of water for irrigation are expected to increase the number of public parks and green areas manifold in the coming years. The newspaper concluded its editorial by noting that the country has seen a remarkable increase in public parks and green spaces in the past 12 years. The number of public parks in Qatar reached 148 in 2022 from 56 in 2010, recording 164 percent growth. The green spaces in the country rose to over 43 million square metres in 2022 from about 2.5 million square metres in 2010. (QNA)