Doha: The Ras Laffan Liquefied Natural Gas Company Limited, (RL), Ras Laffan Liquefied Natural Gas Company Limited (II), RL (II), along with the Qatargas Operating Company Limited (Qatargas) and Air Liquide yesterday marked the successful achievement of the first container load of Helium production; a total of approximately 950 thousand standard cubic feet (scf).
The announcement was made during an inaugurating ceremony marking the milestone slated to supply Air Liquide and the international market with Qatar's helium. The ceremony held at Ras Laffan helium plant, was attended by senior officials from RasGas Qatargas and Air Liquide.
The helium loading comes as the fruitful culmination of concerted efforts dating back to May 2003. Following the award of the Engineering, Procurement and Construction (EPC) contract to Air Liquide Engineering for the helium purification and extraction plant, a long-term Sale and Purchase Agreement was awarded to Air Liquide for the supply of 950 thousand scf of helium per day for a 20-year-period.
Speaking on the occasion, RasGas managing director Alex Dodds said: " The first helium cargo loading is a significant milestone in the history of Qatar's hydrocarbons industry and a landmark achievement for both RasGas and Qatargas. The helium to be shipped today is produced at Ras Laffan helium plant, a world-class facility with a producing capacity nearing 660 million scf of liquid helium per year, of which Air Liquid. buys 50 per cent of the production capacity. The plant, a 100 per cent Qatari venture, is co-owned by RL, RL (II) and Qatar Liquefied Gas Company (Qatargas 1) and was commissioned in August 2005."
Faisal Al Suwaidi, Chairman, Qatargas Operating Co, said: "Qatargas is delighted to be part of this pioneering development which captures yet another diversification opportunity to optimize the gas value chain." Justin Beres, director Worldwide Helium Activity, Air Liquide said: "Air Liquide is proud to participate in this historic event by taking the first molecules from the new Qatari plan and to begin supply chain operations in Qatar." Following the liquefaction and loading process at Ras Laffan plant, the liquid helium will be transported to Doha by road in highly specialized cryogenic containers to markets throughout the world.
© The Peninsula 2005
