DOHA: The Emir H H Sheikh Hamad bin Khalifa Al Thani will formally inaugurate Qatar's newest petrochemicals plant, Q-Chem II on Tuesday, Qatar Chemical Company (Q-Chem) announced in a press release yesterday.
The new facility is expected to produce 350,000 metric tonnes of High Density Polyethylene (HDPE) annually and, for the first time in the region, 345,000 tonnes of Normal Alpha Olefins (NAO). The ceremony, to be held in Mesaieed Industrial City (MIC), is also to be attended by Deputy Premier and Minister of Energy and Industry, H E Abdullah bin Hamad Al Attiyah, and other high level government and business leaders.
HDPE is a tough, flexible plastic polymer that is used in the manufacture of countless day to day items such as plastic cartons, drums, bottles, pails, plastic film, toys, trash and leaf bags, food packaging containers and plastic pipe. Normal Alpha Olefins find use in common household and personal care items such as a plastics, liquid soaps, sunscreen, detergents, synthetic lubricants, adhesives, drilling fluids, high quality paper products, and many other items. Both HDPE and NAOs will be produced by Q-Chem II using proprietary technologies licensed by Chevron Phillips Chemical LP.
Q-Chem II is a joint venture between Qatar Petroleum (51 percent) and Chevron Phillips Chemical Company (49 percent), continuing the partnership established by the two companies when the first Q-Chem plant was set up. Q-Chem II is also part owner of the Ras Laffan Olefins Company (RLOC), the other shareholder being Qatofin. Both Q-Chem II and Qatofin benefit from RLOC's uninterrupted supply of ethylene which is the main raw material used in the chemical processes of both companies. The resultant economies of scale allow Q-Chem II and Qatofin to be even more competitive on the open market.
"After years of planning and hard work by many people we're finally ready to launch the new plant," said Ahmed Ibrahim Al Emadi, Q-Chem General Manager. "The idea of Q-Chem II would not have become reality without extensive support from several fronts - first of all I'd like to thank H H the Emir and H H the Heir Apparent for their constant guidance and support and H E Abdullah bin Hamad Al Attiyah for his unwavering commitment to Qatar's industries."
"I would like also to express my gratitude to the management and staff who have made Q-Chem a success story deserve a special thank you," he said. "I have no doubt their exceptional resolve, optimism and commitment will allow Q-Chem II to meet the high expectations that we have set for the company in the years to come."
ERIKA WIDEN
© The Peninsula 2010
