Gulf Time: OCT 31,2011.
RasGas will soon become one of the largest single gas processors in the world with total production rising to around 11bn standard cubic feet per day (the equivalent of almost 2mn barrels of oil).
“This will occur once the two new gas processing trains are fully operational in 2014 and 2015 respectively”, said Hamad Rashid al-Mohannadi, RasGas managing director and CEO, in an interview with QNA yesterday.
He was speaking on the eve of the Barzan Gas Project foundation stone laying ceremony. HH the Heir Apparent Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad al-Thani will preside over the formal launch today.
Barzan Gas Project will produce around 1.4bn standard cubic feet per day of gas which will provide much needed power on a permanent, safe and sustainable long-term basis to the people and industries in Qatar, al-Mohannadi said. It will also export condensate and liquefied petroleum products to the international market.
He said Barzan is one of the most innovative engineering projects ever undertaken in Qatar. The project will supply Qatar’s power generation stations and desalination plants with adequate energy to meet the growing demand for the economic and social development in Qatar.
“This project, costing about $8.6bn, will energise and support Qatar’s National Vision 2030 and I am excited that RasGas will manage and operate this project.
The two new trains are expected to be fully operational in 2014 and 2015, respectively. “RasGas has the reputation of delivering its projects on time and within budget and we plan to do this”, he said.
Al-Mohannadi said RasGas was the project manager and operator of the project, through a joint venture between Qatar Petroleum and ExxonMobil.
Highlighting the priorities during the construction and development stage, said: “The safety of our people, including all our contractors, remains the top priority during project execution. We will have more than 20,000 people working at any given time on this project, coming from different backgrounds, speaking different languages and with differing skill levels.
Al-Mohannadi said: “Very early in the planning stages of this project, we conducted an economic, environmental and social study on the various impacts of this project and we will be using sophisticated technologies in pipeline and offshore platform installation that will help minimise any impact on marine life to a great extent”, he said.
“In addition, we have put in significant efforts to ensure the application of the right technology, sound engineering design and implementation of lessons learned from previous projects, to build a safe and reliable plant to meet our customer’s demand.”
Asked how the Barzan Project will enhance Qatarisation and what distinguished it from previous major RasGas projects, he said: “In all aspects of RasGas’ business we are taking practical steps to develop the capacity of our people, particularly Qatari citizens by offering them opportunities and helping them build the skills to fulfil their potential.
“However, what’s particularly special about the Barzan Gas Project is that it will have the largest number of Qataris working on the project in comparison with all our previous projects”.
Al-Mohannadi said that for the first time, RasGas will offer a unique development programme for Qatari nationals that is focused on the offshore facilities.
Also, 31 Qatari engineers, both men and women, are working overseas and participating in a Professional Development Programme specifically related to the Barzan Gas Project. Their involvement ranges and includes a combination of classwork, workshop training and on-the-job training while working with members of Japan Gas Company and Hyundai Heavy Industries‘ project teams, he added.
Indirectly, Qataris working for other engineering, offshore, supply and freight companies are all contributing to this mega project.
Asked about local companies involved in the development and construction of the Barzan Project, al-Mohannadi said: “I was particularly pleased that Qatari companies were heavily engaged in the bidding for construction contracts for the Barzan Onshore scope of work.
“After a very thorough tender process the most competitive bids for the five major construction subcontracts were submitted by Qatari companies and they were awarded this work scope in the summer of 2011.
“In addition, we requested that our engineering, procurement and construction contractors continuously encourage Qatari companies while ensuring they are competent and have bid against global competitors successfully,” he said.
“We also encouraged both our new and experienced Qatari employees to get involved in the Barzan Gas Project as a strategic initiative of Qatar’s development. This has shown excellent results due to an enthusiastic response from young Qataris and outstanding support by RasGas and its contractor workforce in implementing their development programme”.
Replying to a question on the significance of the Barzan Project for the people of Qatar, al-Mohannadi said: “The Barzan Gas Project is strategically important for the long-term sustainable development Qatar. The gas will be produced by Qatar, from Qatar Natural Resources in the North Field.
“Ultimately, it will provide a long-term reliable energy source for Qatar – positively impacting the life of every citizen living and working in Qatar”.