DOHA: Qatar Fuel (Woqod) yesterday inaugurated its new LPG filling and distribution plant in the New Industrial Area. The plant was formally opened by the Deputy Premier and Minister of Energy and Industry, H E Abdullah Bin Hamad Al Attiyah.
"The official commissioning of this new LPG bottling plant reflects the joint effort and consistent hard work put in by QP and Woqod over the last two years," said Al Attiyah at the opening ceremony.
He added that the plant has been built in keeping with the latest international standards in terms of safety, security, health and environment. "Concern for the local environment was one of our top priorities," he said.
A new LPG cylinder which is safer and lighter, weighing 12 kg, under the name 'Shafaf' was introduced at the programme.
'Shafaf' is a fibreglass and plastic composite LPG cylinder that weighs just 5kg when empty, half as light as the steel cylinders in the market today.
"This is the very latest technology in LPG cylinder design having significant safety and handling advantages including the advantage of not exploding in a fire," said Mohammed Turki Al Sobai, Woqod's vice-chairman and managing director. Shafaf will be available in 12kg and 5kg refill sizes, the smaller size designed for domestic kitchens and for use outdoors such as on picnics. The initial price for the 12kg cylinder will be QR350 and the 5kg one will be priced at QR275. The LPG refill price stays at QR15 for the bigger cylinder and QR7 for the smaller one.
Initially, Shafaf will be available at all Woqod service stations with a home delivery service to be introduced early next year. "LPG in Qatar today is manufactured at Qatar Petroleum's refinery in Mesaieed and up to now was provided through a small LPG filling plant in Mesaieed. Woqod has built this new LPG plant with the help of expertise from Qatar Petroleum," said Al Sobai. The cylinders will be introduced as an alternative to customers in the first phase.
By Nasser al Harthy
© The Peninsula 2009
