Doha - Qatar, 20 June 2011: Qatargas Operating Company Limited and Gasal Q.S.C., the joint venture between Air Liquide, Qatar Petroleum and Qatar Industrial Manufacturing Company, announced the signature of an agreement for the supply of gaseous nitrogen, through Gasal's pipeline in Ras Laffan Industrial City, Qatar.

The gaseous nitrogen delivered to Qatargas is supplied through a 5-km pipeline network from the "YangoO2" air separation unit, owned and operated by Gasal.  This new air separation unit was built in record time of 15 months and commissioned in December 2010.

Gasal's nitrogen pipeline network has been initiated to safely and reliably service the existing and future end users in Ras Laffan.  During the last few weeks, Gasal has been able, through its safe, reliable and uninterrupted supply of gaseous nitrogen, to play a key role in one of Qatargas' successful planned maintenance programs.

Khalid Bin Khalifa Al-Thani, Chief Executive Officer, Qatargas, said: "We are proud to be associated with one of the important players in the energy sector like Gasal who provide industrial gases to the oil, gas and chemical downstream industries in Qatar. This example of cooperation and the subsequent synergy is one of the reasons behind our success and the success of Qatar's energy sector, under the guidance of His Excellency Dr. Mohammed Saleh Al Sada, Minister of Energy & Industry of the State of Qatar and Chairman of the Board of Qatargas."

 Mr Christian Last, CEO of Gasal, commented: "Gasal successfully completed the first phase on its nitrogen pipeline system in Ras Laffan Industrial City. The first 5 km are only the beginning of a Ras Laffan wide network, which will be constructed in support of Qatar's National Vision 2030 and the further industrial establishment.  Today, we are proud of having connected Qatargas to our system that offers the safest, most reliable and cost effective supply solution."

Commenting on this significant agreement, Sheikh Ahmed Bin Jassim Al Thani, Qatargas' Chief Operating Officer, Engineering & Ventures, added: "Partnerships are important for the success and efficiency of any project; the partnership with Gasal to fulfill our nitrogen requirements in a continued safe and effective way has been a contributing factor in the successful delivery of our maintenance programme. We look forward to their ongoing support in our future projects as well."

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About Qatargas:
Qatargas has successfully competed in May 2011 the planned maintenance of its Qatargas 1 plant in a safe and timely manner. The massive teamwork and planning behind this maintenance programme involved employees on all levels. Different contractors have also supported the Qatargas team in effectively delivering it.   Qatargas was established in 1984, and pioneered the liquefied natural gas (LNG) industry in Qatar. Today, Qatargas, under the guidance of His Excellency Dr. Mohammed Saleh Al Sada, Minister of Energy & Industry of the State of Qatar and Chairman of the Board of Qatargas, is the largest LNG producer in the world, with an annual LNG production capacity of 42 million tonnes per annum (MTA) and is realising its vision to deliver LNG to its customers around the globe, from its world-class facilities in Qatar. Qatargas has seven LNG trains, of which four are the largest in the world - known as mega trains - each with a production capacity of 7.8 mtpa.  The Qatargas vision is, by 2015 to be the world's premier LNG Company, known for its people, innovation, operating excellence, environmental responsibility and corporate citizenship. Since the establishment of Qatargas 1, it has completed a successful expansion program that has included the development of Qatargas 2; Qatargas 3 and Qatargas 4 projects; Laffan Refinery, a dedicated fleet of ships, and an LNG Receiving Terminal. Qatargas operates these trains and the offshore as well as the Laffan Refinery, the Common Sulphur facilities, the Common Lean LNG (CLLNG), the Common LPG (CLPG) and the Common Condensate Storage & Loading (CCSL) projects on behalf of all project owners.

Today, Qatargas' customers are spread throughout the four corners of the world in European, Asian and North American markets including Japan, Spain, France, the United Kingdom, Canada, Mexico, the United States and China.

About Gasal:
Gasal Q.S.C. was established in 2006 as a joint venture between Air Liquide, Qatar Petroleum and Qatar Industrial Manufacturing Company in order to provide industrial gases such as oxygen, nitrogen, hydrogen and argon to the steel, oil, gas and chemical downstream industries in Qatar. By connecting multiple clients to our pipeline networks, we can safely and reliably supply these products to our customers in Mesaieed and Ras Laffan industrial cities.

For media enquires, please contact at QG: Lynda James, lyjames@qatargas.com.qa, Ph +974 7799 66 35; Thajudeen Aliar, taliar@qatargas.com.qa, Ph +974 3340 64 7

© Press Release 2011