Qatar
Emir inaugurates Laffan Refinery 2
Emir inaugurates Laffan Refinery 2
Qatar is now home to one of the largest condensate refiners in the world with HH the Emir Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad al-Thani inaugurating the Laffan Refinery 2, which is majority owned by QP.
LR2 at Ras Laffan has a total processing capacity of 146,000 barrels per day of condensate from the North Field, the largest non-associated natural gas reserve in the world.
The facility will effectively double the condensate refining capacity of the Laffan Refinery Complex to 292,000 barrels per day, solidifying the country’s unique position as the largest condensate producer with the largest condensate refining capacity in the world.
LR2 produces ‘low sulfur Euro-V’ specification products such as naphtha, jet-A1, ultra-low sulfur diesel (ULSD), propane and butane.
With Laffan Refinery 2 going on-stream, Qatar now has the capacity to process about 40% of the condensate from the offshore North Field into high quality products with low sulphur content.
Qatargas operates the refinery on behalf of the shareholders - Qatar Petroleum (84%), Total (10%), Cosmo (2%), Idemitsu (2%), Mitsui (1%) and Marubeni (1%).
HH the Emir inaugurated Laffan Refinery 2 at a special ceremony held at the Qatar National Convention Centre and attended by senior ministers and officials, project shareholders, and leading industry executives.
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 Qatar by optimising the country’s natural resources for generations to come.
Addressing the inaugural event, Qatar Petroleum president and CEO Saad Sherida al-Kaabi, also Qatargas chairman, said: “We are deeply honoured by the patronage and presence of His Highness the Emir Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad al-Thani.”
Al-Kaabi 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.”
He said: “We, in Qatar Petroleum, 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”.
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 100mn barrels per year, making Ras Laffan Industrial City one of the biggest condensate refining locations in the world.”
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 CEO Sheikh Khalid bin Khalifa al-Thani said: “The 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.”