Qatar said it was building a new terminal to export 4.8 million tonnes of liquefied natural gas to Italy by 2008, the country's state news agency QNA reported.

"Currently we are building a terminal to receive Qatari LNG that will be exported to Italy before the end of next year 2008," QNA said citing Nasser Khalil Al Geeda, chief executive of Qatar Petroleum International.

"We are expecting to export 4.8 million tonnes annually which is expected to increase to about 6 million tonnes per year."

Qatar Petroleum International owns 45 per cent of this project, Exxon Mobil also owns 45 per cent, while Italian firm Edison owns 10 per cent.Reuters