Wednesday, 12 December 2012

DOHA: With the inauguration of Qafco-6 project, Qatar has become the world's 4th largest producer, and the largest exporter of urea, with 15 percent market share of the total traded urea being from Qafco.

The QR2.2bn ($604m) urea production facility (Qafco-6), located in the industrial city of Mesaieed, was formally inaugurated yesterday by the Heir Apparent, H H Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani. 

With Qafco-6, Qatar's total annual production urea capacity has reached to 5.6 million MT, which means the company would be producing about 17,000 tonnes per day. With the operation of Qafco-5, last year, the company acquired the top position as the world's fertilizer producer, with an annual production of 3.6 million tonnes of ammonia and 4.3 million tonnes of urea.

The ceremony was attended by H E Dr Mohamed bin Saleh Al Sada, Minister of Energy and Industry, and other dignitaries, including diplomats from many countries.

A documentary film based on Qafco-6 project marked the opening of the event in which Dr Al Sada, said: "Qatar's transformation has come about through sound economic management, responsible exploitation of Qatar's bountiful hydrocarbon resources and planned economic diversification. This has been brought about through the wise guidance and directives of the Emir, H H Sheikh Hamad bin Khalifa Al Thani, who has envisioned Qatar to be a vibrant and prosperous country with all round progress, and special attention on human, social, economic and environmental development." 

Speaking about the elements of success in Qatar's growth, he added, "Qatar recognised the importance of utilising the most efficient technologies for developing its resources. To achieve this, we have established strategic and mutually beneficial partnerships with international partners." 

Abdulaziz bin Ahmed Al Malki, Qafco Chairman, said: "The inauguration of our sixth production facility, by H H Sheikh Tamim bn Hamad Al Thani, Heir Apparent, on the threshold of 40th year of production, will propel Qafco into being the largest exporter and fourth largest producer of urea in the world. This will represent a major leap on Qafco's scale of progress and further enhance our role in the economic development of Qatar." 

"At present, we are exporting to more than 45 countries and this is bringing Qafco to be one of the major fertiliser exporters in the world", added he. 

On future plans, Al Malki said: "The future of Qafco will never stop at where we are now. We do have a very ambitious planning and strategy ahead out of which with all the support of the team, management, QP and our shareholders, we will be very much dominating future markets." 

"With the inauguration   of Qafco-6, 15 per cent of globally traded urea will be Qafco's", added Khalifa Abdulla Al Sowaidi, Qafco, Vice Chairman and CEO. "To be the largest producers of ammonia and urea in the world is a dream that Qafco had cherished for long and with Qafco-6 expansion it had taken yet another long stride towards that goal." 

© The Peninsula 2012