Qatar Petroleum to Double Ras Laffan Refinery Capacity

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Researched by Industrial Info Resources India (Delhi, India)--Qatar Petroleum (Qatar, Doha) has firmed up its plan to improve the capacity of Ras Laffan Condensate Refinery to 292,000 barrels per day (BBL/d), from the current 146,000 BBL/d. The total estimated cost for the refinery expansion is about $1 billion. The Ras Laffan plant production capacity is 61,000 BBL/d of naphtha, 52,000 BBL/d of kerosene/jet fuel, 24,000 BBL/d of gasoil, and 9,000 BBL/d of liquefied petroleum gas. The new plant is expected to be fully operational by the first quarter of 2016.

According to Qatar Petroleum, the expansion of Ras Laffan Refinery would improve product distribution domestically and fully complies with the international demand for cleaner fuel products, allowing Qatar to become a net exporter of diesel and other refined products.

The biggest product stream at the plant will be naphtha, a petrochemical feedstock and gasoline component. While the kerosene and jet fuel produced at the new refinery units will cater mainly to western markets, Asia will be the main export market for the sale of light fuel. The gas oil output will be redirected into the local Qatari and regional Middle East markets. The expansion will allow Qatar to cease diesel imports.

The refinery expansion contract for FEED already has been awarded to Technip S.A. (OTC:TNHPF) (Paris, France). The study is expected to be completed by the first quarter of 2012.

State-funded Qatar Petroleum operates the Ras Laffan refinery and has a 51% stake. Other 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%.

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