24 April 2013
Qatar Fuel Additives Company (Qafac), a subsidiary of Industries Qatar, is planning to enhance the production of MTBE (methyl tert-butyl ether), a gasoline additive, in Mesaieed and Ras Laffan due to increasing demand for cleaner fuel.

"With the steadily growing demand for MTBE, Qafac is working together with Qatar Petroleum in exploring the possibilities of expanding our MTBE production in Mesaieed and Ras Laffan," Qafac chairman Hamad Rashid al-Mohannadi said at the first-ever 'Qafac MTBE Workshop: Clean Fuel, Clean Air'.

MTBE is the most widely used oxygenate, following the global phase-out of lead as an octane enhancer in gasoline.

"As the domestic and regional gasoline market continues to grow, and with the construction of a new gasoline refinery at Ras Laffan Industrial City, MTBE has an important role to play in the production of gasoline that meets the Euro 5 standards," he said.

Qafac produces 1,830 tonnes of MTBE a day, according to its website. It is produced by processing butane and methanol. While QP provides the field butane, methanol is provided by the on-site methanol plant. MTBE produced by Qafac is also used by QP refinery to replace lead in the gasoline locally marketed in Qatar.

"The elimination of leaded gasoline is an immense accomplishment and will be remembered as one of the major environmental achievements of the past few decades - a historic feat indeed for the global community," al-Mohannadi said, adding as the quest for a suitable replacement for lead began, the pursuit of new octane enhancers that reduces toxic emissions became the topmost priority.

Qafac is one of the first companies to conduct an environment impact assessment and is currently constructing the biggest carbon dioxide recovery plant in the region and the first to adapt the wash oil system in reactor outlet in MTBE process, according to Khalid al-Hitmi, Qafac plant manager.

Clarence Woo, executive director, Asian Clean Fuels Association (ACFA), said in his presentation that MTBE has never been classified as toxic or carcinogenic by any regulatory body anywhere in the world.

"The International Agency for Research on Cancer, the World Health Organisation, the European Union, the National Toxicology Programme of the US Department of Health and Human Services, the National Research Council, and the Office of Environmental Health Hazard Assessment of California - have found no sufficiently compelling reason to classify MTBE as a possible cancer-causing agent for humans," he said.

Robert McBean, executive chairman, Wentworth Resources Ltd, who was also a former managing director of Qafac, said the Clean Air Act created a demand for oxygenated gasoline.

© Gulf Times 2013