Woqod mulling export of Shafaf LPG cylinders

Woqod CEO Ibrahim Jaham al-Kuwari speaks to the media at a press conference yesterday, announcing the company’s current and future projects. PICTURE: Noushad Thekkayil

By Joey Aguilar/Staff Reporter

Woqod is studying the possibility of constructing a factory for Shafaf LPG cylinders in Qatar to meet the growing demand locally.

The company’s CEO, Ibrahim Jaham al-Kuwari, told reporters yesterday that they were also looking into the possibility of exporting LPG cylinders to neighbouring GCC countries.

In April, the Woqod official had cited an 8% rise in LPG sales while the number of cylinders refilled and sold reached 1.3mn (for metal cylinders) and 315,000 units of Shafaf in the first quarter of 2014.

Shafaf will soon replace metal cylinders through a “carefully planned staged approach without disrupting the local market”, according to al-Kuwari.

“Woqod currently supplies many points and centres of distribution for butane gas cylinders, especially Shafaf,” said al-Kuwari. “We are also doing our best to further develop and expand the butane gas distribution network to make the distribution process more convenient and accessible within all areas of the State.”

At the press conference yesterday, the Woqod official also announced that four Sidra convenience stores, which are in the design and approval stages, would be constructed at Hamad Hospital, Ascott Tower, Barwa Commercial Avenue and Barwa City.

As part of its expansion efforts, Woqod has signed a memorandum of understanding with the Public Works Authority (Ashghal) to provide the latter with large amounts of bitumen and modified bitumen for its projects.

Al-Kuwari said they bought a 3,450-metric-tonne vessel and completed the design and research stages to build new tanks in the Mesaieed area. These include an additional estimated capacity of up to 15,000 metric tonnes.

Woqod also wants to build and expand its car wash services to address the huge demand, especially in Doha.

Al-Kuwari said they would also focus on expanding the network to reach 100 fuel stations and the network of Fahes technical inspection centres through the construction of new inspection lines at existing stations.

Woqod plans to use compressed natural gas (CNG) in buses and trucks, especially those used for long-distance travel. The project is under the supervision of Qatar Petroleum and in co-operation with Mowasalat.

CNG use will be expanded later to include new areas with the projected construction of seven new CNG stations in the coming years.

Woqod is also set to establish a factory for the production of engine oils, according to al-Kuwari, noting that “a feasibility study has been done towards that end”.

“There are also new future projects for Q-Jet in the areas of jet fuel and logistic facilities at the new Hamad International Airport, in co-operation with Qatar Airways,” he added, thanking HE the Prime Minister and Minister of Interior Sheikh Abdullah bin Nasser bin Khalifa al-Thani for continuously supporting Woqod’s projects.