Qatar Petroleum Expects to Select Turn Key Contractor for Ras Laffan Refinery Expansion by August 2012

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Researched by Industrial Info Resources India (Delhi, India)--Qatar Petroleum (Qatar, Doha) is set to select engineering, procurement and construction (EPC) contractor for its Ras Laffan Condensate Refinery Expansion Project in Qatar. The company is currently evaluating the bids for the EPC package, which was floated in May 2012. Selection of the EPC-Turnkey is expected to be completed by the end of August 2012.

The Refinery Expansion Project envisages enhancing the capacity of the Condensate Refinery from 146,000 barrels per day (BBL/d) to 292,000 BBL/d. The company had engaged Technip S.A. (OTC:TNHPF) (Paris, France) for front-end engineering and designing (FEED) for the project. The FEED study was completed in March 2012.

The cost for the refinery expansion has been pegged at $1 billion. The Ras Laffan currently produces 61,000 BBL/d of naphtha, 52,000 BBL/d of kerosene and jet fuel, 24,000 BBL/d of gasoil, and 9,000 BBL/d of liquefied petroleum gas. The new units are expected to be fully operational by the end of fourth quarter of 2015.

According to Qatar Petroleum sources, the expansion of Ras Laffan Refinery would improve product distribution domestically complying with the international demand for cleaner fuel products, allowing Qatar to become a net exporter of diesel and other refined products. Upon completion of the project, naphtha along with other gasoline components will constitute the main product stream for the refinery. While, Kerosene and Jet-fuel produced at the refinery will cater mainly to the western markets, Asia will be the primary export market for the sale of light fuels.

State-owned Qatar Petroleum operates the Ras Laffan refinery and has a 51% stake. Other major shareholders include Total S.A. (NYSE:TOT) (Paris) with 10%, ExxonMobil Corporation (NYSE:XOM) (Irving, Texas) with 10%, Cosmo with 10%, Idemitsu with 10%, Mitsui with 4.5% and Marubeni with 4.5%. Separately, Qatar Petroleum operated Mesaieed Refinery with a capacity of 137,000 BBL/d.

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