Khalifa al-Sowaidi ... leading from the front
By Pratap John/Chief Business Reporter

Qatar Fertiliser Company (Qafco) will consolidate its position as the top global producer of urea and ammonia with the formal inauguration of Qafco 5 at Mesaieed on December 20.
With Qafco 5, the company will achieve a milestone as the world’s largest fertiliser producer with an annual production capacity in excess of 3mn tonnes of ammonia and 4.3mn tonnes of urea.
“Our urea production will touch 5.6mn tonnes with Qafco 6 start up next year,” Qatar Fertiliser Company vice-chairman and CEO Khalifa al-Sowaidi told Gulf Times yesterday.
“Qatar will account for about 12.5% of the world’s traded urea with Qafco 6 starting up in 2012,” al-Sowaidi added.
Asked whether the company planned more expansion given the rising demand for fertilisers worldwide, al-Sowaidi said: “Currently, we are focused on Qafco 5 and Qafco 6. Further expansion will depend on gas allocation.”
Qafco is the largest local consumer of gas after the utilities.
He said the global economic downturn did not impact the demand for fertilisers.
“Fertilisers are absolutely essential for global food production. Now that the world is concerned about boosting food output, fertilisers are still in need,” al-Sowaidi said.
He said the Melamine Plant at Mesaieed, which is handled by Qafco, was now running at 100% capacity. “We have already attained full capacity at the Melamine Plant.” The plant, which has a production capacity of 60,000 tonnes per year, has been set up at the Qafco complex within the Mesaieed Industrial City.
Qafco’s urea is used as feedstock for the melamine plant. Melamine, which is used in the synthesis of melamine formaldehyde and melamine urea formaldehyde, has widespread industrial and commercial applications. It finds applications in laminates, wood adhesives, surface coatings and textile treating and moulding compounds.
Al-Sowaidi said the World Petroleum Congress is significant for Qafco as “issues concerning gas supply and pricing are important to us. Gas supply and a reasonable price are essential for our survival.”

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