Doha - Qatar, 24 April 2012: 

Qatargas today announced its support to the Qatar Independent Technical School (QITS) in Doha by funding the construction of six new classrooms. 

The announcement was made by Ghanim Al-Kuwari, Qatargas Chief Operating Officer - Administration, at a ceremony held at the school premises, during which Mr. Al-Kuwari, along with Abdullah Shams, Principal of QITS, laid the foundation stone for the new facilities.  Also in attendance from Qatargas were Mansour Rashid Al-Naimi, Public Relations Manager, Adnan Hassan Al-Shaibi, Head of Qatarization and National Development as well as Hassan Ali Al Mutawa, Head of Administration at QITS.

Following the ceremony, Ghanim Al-Kuwari, Qatargas Chief Operating Officer - Administration said:

"Our support to build the new classrooms at QITS is an extension of the ongoing cooperation between Qatargas and QITS.  We believe that Qatargas' partnership with QITS will benefit both parties as most of the young Nationals who are on our Technical Preparatory Programme are trained at QITS.  Helping to build the National workforce is an important element of Qatargas' corporate social responsibility.  Our collaboration with QITS supports our Qatarization objectives and contributes towards the Human Development pillar of Qatar's National Vision 2030."

Mansour Rashid Al-Naimi, Qatargas Public Relations Manager added:

"Supporting the education sector is a core element of our corporate social responsibility strategy at Qatargas.  Continuing to invest in the education and training of young Nationals enables Qatargas to contribute towards achieving the goals of the National Development Strategy 2011-2016 by increasing the prominence of technical education and vocational training programmes to prepare young Qataris to acquire the skills required for the industrial sector."

Abdullah Shams, Principal of QITS, said:

"We greatly value the ongoing cooperation between QITS and Qatargas and appreciate Qatargas' support towards expanding our facilities.  This will help us in meeting the growing needs of Qatar's industry, especially the oil and gas sector.  QITS is committed to continuously improving the students' theoretical and practical learning in classrooms as well as workshops and labs, to acquire the knowledge and skills required for the workplace and further education."

Through its ongoing cooperation with QITS, Qatargas has been proving valuable support and direction to Qatar's education sector.  As part of Qatargas' High School Internship Programmes, QITS students are provided opportunities for month-long placements over the summer holidays to experience work familiarisation onsite at Ras Laffan.  A specific development programme was designed for the students, who were given exposure to the LNG plant and its various sections, to give them a broad understanding of the gas industry in Qatar, and its role in the development of the country in achieving its vision.

In 2011 Qatargas invited QITS instructors for plant visits and an overview of our internship programme, to enhance their understanding of the needs of the Oil & Gas industry, and how the education sector can partner with industry to manage the expectations of their students.  Since 2010, Qatargas' Head of Qatarization and National Development Division, Adnan Hassan Al-Shaibi, has held the post of Vice Chairman of the Board of Trustees at QITS.

Operated and supervised by Qatar Petroleum, QITS was founded in 1999 to offer career-oriented technical education at secondary level.  The technical education programmes offered at QITS are in response to the current and potential local labour market needs and prepares the students to work as technicians and computer professionals in various sectors within the State of Qatar.  Programmes are offered in Mechanical, Electrical, Process Plant Operations, Instrumentation, Welding and Information Technology.

One of the main focus of Qatargas' Corporate Social Responsibility programme is  human development and building youth capacities in line with the Qatar National Vision 2030. Based on this, Qatargas already sponsors a Research Chair for Engineering at Qatar University with the objective of promoting research in the Engineering Discipline at the University. It also regularly supports the GASNA competition organized by the Gas Processing Center (GPC) of Qatar University, which is aimed at encouraging the country's younger generation to make their contribution towards the development of innovative projects for gas and related product technologies.

-Ends-

About Qatargas:
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 Bin Saleh Al Sade, Minister of Energy & Industry of the State of Qatar and Chairman of the Board of Directors at Qatargas, is the largest LNG producing company in the world, with an annual LNG production capacity of 42 million tons per annum (MTA) and is realizing its vision to deliver LNG to its customers around the globe, from its world-class facilities in Qatar.

For media enquiries please contact:
Lynda James,
lyjames@qatargas.com.qa,
Tel: +974 7799 66 35

Nizar Ahmed,
Tel: +974 5552 3307
NAhmed@qatargas.com.qa

© Press Release 2012