Qatargas, a global leading LNG company has inaugurated Laffan Refinery 2 in Ras Laffan Industrial City, effectively doubling Qatar’s condensate refining capacity to 292,000 barrels per day.

Inaugurated by Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al-Thani, the Emir of the State of Qatar, Laffan Refinery 2 is an important milestone in the development of the oil and gas sector in Qatar due to its strategic role in diversifying Qatar’s energy mix.

 As such, Laffan Refinery 2 will make a significant contribution to the sustained, economic development of the State of Qatar by optimising the country’s natural resources for generations to come, a statement said.

Saad Sherida Al-Kaabi, president and CEO of Qatar Petroleum, and chairman of Qatargas Board of Directors said: “This inauguration is the result of the wise leadership and directives of His Highness the Emir, and is another step on the road to a better future as mapped by Qatar Vision 2030, which was launched by His Highness. This Vision has laid the foundations to transform Qatar into an advanced country, capable of achieving sustainable development and ensuring the continuation of a dignified life for its people, generation after generation.”

“We, in Qatar Petroleum in its subsidiaries and joint ventures, have been working to achieve the pillars of this Vision, and have worked to ensure the wise and prudent management of our hydrocarbon resources, the calculated and diverse investment, the development of the Qatari citizen, and the ability to implement our projects with the highest international environmental standards,” he added.

Al-Kaabi noted that by adding this project to Laffan 1, the refining capacity will double to 292,000 barrels per day, which is equal to 100 million barrels per year, making Ras Laffan Industrial City one of the biggest condensate refining locations in the world.

Khalid Bin Khalifa Al-Thani, Qatargas chief executive officer, said: “Qatargas has a distinguished track record for constructing and managing innovative facilities such as Laffan Refinery 2. This new refinery is a clear demonstration of Qatargas’ ability to manage and operate our resources safely, efficiently and reliably, and further strengthens our reputation for value creation and operational excellence. At Qatargas, we are proud of the trust bestowed upon us to enhance Qatar’s leadership position in the energy sector.”

Laffan Refinery 2 not only creates value for the State of Qatar and its shareholders, but also adheres to the highest environmental standards through low gas emissions, zero flaring during normal operation, and zero waste water discharge to the sea. In addition, Laffan Refinery 2 includes a waste water recycling facility which treats industrial water from Laffan Refinery 1 and Laffan Refinery 2. The recycled water is then re-used as boiler feed water and cooling water, thereby reducing water consumption and eliminating the discharge of treated industrial water.

The new refinery processes condensate to produce five high quality products. These products support the energy and industry sectors by providing energy sources and raw feedstock material, namely naphtha, kerojet (A-1), diesel and liquefied petroleum gas in the form of propane and butane. It also creates new economic opportunities by enhancing export capacity and therefore the ability to supply international demand for energy.

Qatargas, the, operates the refinery on behalf of Laffan Refinery 2’s shareholders: Qatar Petroleum (84 per cent), Total (10 per cent), Cosmo (2 per cent), Idemitsu (2 per cent), Mitsui (1 per cent) and Marubeni (1 per cent). – TradeArabia News Service