DOHA: Ras Laffan 3 announced yesterday, the start-up of Train 6 at Ras Laffan Industrial City. A joint venture between Qatar Petroleum (QP) and ExxonMobil Ras Laffan (III) Limited, the project is an expansion of the already existent LNG production facilities operated by RasGas Company Limited.
Train 6 will produce 7.8 million tonnes per year, matching the capacity of the largest LNG train in the word, also in Qatar. The huge size of the facilities is of sufficient scale to competitively reach global markets.
Ras Laffan 3 is also constructing its second 7.8 million tonnes per year train, Train 7, expected to start-up in late 2009. Both Trains will be supplied natural gas from the North Field, estimated to have over 900 trillion cubic feet of natural gas.
"Working in partnership with QP, Ras Laffan Train 6 represents yet another technological milestone that will help supply the growing demand for clean-burning natural gas," said Alex Dodds, President and General Manager, ExxonMobil Qatar Inc, "Advanced technologies, strong project execution skills and economies of scale have reduced the cost of producing and transporting LNG, thereby extending our ability to bring LNG to more people around the world."
Ras Laffan 3 is part of a full value-chain investment that includes the facilities needed for gas production and liquefaction. It is being developed alongside investments from affiliates of QP and ExxonMobil which have been placed in 12 new world-class Q-Flex LNG vessels and the Golden Pass LNG regasification terminal under construction near Sabine Pass, Texas.
The terminal represents a joint venture involving affiliates of QP, with a 70 percent stake, ExxonMobil, with a 17.6 percent stake, and ConocoPhillips, with a 12.4 percent stake, and is expected to start up in 2010.
Qatar is now the most significant supplier of LNG globally. With successful joint ventures with QP, ExxonMobil has an interest to supply LNG to major markets in Asia, Europe and North America through 12 trains in Qatar. Ras Laffan 3 Train 6 is the second 7.8million tonnes per year LNG plant brought by QP and ExxonMobil joint ventures this year.
© The Peninsula 2009
