The World's Largest Helium Refining Facility Making Qatar the World's Largest Exporter of Helium
Doha, Qatar - 11 December, 2013
Under the patronage of His Excellency Sheikh Abdullah Bin Nasser Bin Khalifa Al Thani, Prime Minister and Minister of Interior of the State of Qatar, the Helium 2 plant was officially inaugurated by His Excellency Dr Mohammed Bin Saleh Al Sada, Minister of Energy and Industry, this morning at Katara Cultural Village. The Helium 2 plant is the world's largest helium refining facility and makes Qatar the world's largest exporter of helium and second largest producer.
In the press conference following the inauguration, His Excellency Dr. Al-Sada said, "As Qatar celebrates Qatar National Day, I would like to present this achievement to His Highness Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani, Emir of Qatar."
He continued to describe the Helium 2 plant as "a testament to how Qatar's national resources from the North Field can be best optimised."
Speaking at the inauguration event, Dr. Al-Sada said by making Qatar the world's largest exporter of helium, "this project is also a testament to how the elements of Qatar's Vision 2030 can be put in place to build a better future for many generations to come."
"For this", H.E. concluded, "we owe a debt of gratitude to His Highness Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al-Thani, the Emir of the State of Qatar for his leadership, guidance and foresight."
The Helium 2 plant incorporates highly complex and advanced technology that captures, extracts and refines crude helium from six liquefied natural gas (LNG) mega trains: RasGas' trains 6 and 7, and Qatargas' trains 4, 5, 6 and 7. RasGas managed the two-year construction project and now operates the plant which has an annual production capacity of 1.3 billion standard cubic feet (Bscf).
"For RasGas to develop, build and operate the facilities that make Qatar the world's largest exporter of helium reflects the confidence our shareholders have in our proven ability to manage projects and operate facilities safely and reliably. RasGas is very proud that the Helium 2 project was executed and achieved timely production with an excellent safety record from the onset. As a global energy supplier RasGas is committed to building on Qatar's reputation as a reliable international supplier of high quality helium," said Hamad Rashid Al Mohannadi, RasGas Chief Executive Officer and Vice Chairman of Qatar Petroleum.
More than five million man hours were worked constructing the Helium 2 project without a single lost time incident (LTI). This remarkable safety milestone is testament to RasGas and Qatargas' commitment to creating and maintaining a safe work environment.
As a result of RasGas' and Qatargas' mega LNG trains, Helium 2 has doubled the production capacity of its predecessor, Helium 1. The two plants' combined annual production 1.96 Bscf per year is expected to meet around 25 per cent of current total global liquid helium demand.
"As the largest LNG producer with 42 million tonnes per annum and seven trains operating at full capacity, we in Qatargas are very proud to be part, and a major contributor, of the Helium project since its beginning with Helium 1 and now with the further expansion, Helium 2, which has allowed it to become the largest helium asset in the world and part of our continuing contribution to the diversification of our nation's natural resources," said Khalid Bin Khalifa Al Thani, Qatargas Chief Executive Officer.
The advanced technology applied in the Helium 2 facility has provided Qatari engineers with a variety of career and skill development opportunities. A large number of Qatari nationals have been involved in the Helium 2 project since its early stages.
The inauguration was also attended by senior government officials and senior personnel from Qatar Petroleum, RasGas, Qatargas, ExxonMobil, project shareholders, contracted customers and contractors.
-Ends-
About RasGas
RasGas Company Limited (RasGas) is a Qatari joint stock company established in 2001 by Qatar Petroleum and ExxonMobil RasGas Inc. RasGas acts as the operating company for and on behalf of the owners of the liquefied natural gas (LNG) projects RL, RL (II) and RL3 (Project Owners). With operations facilities based in Ras Laffan Industrial City, Qatar, RasGas' principal activities are to extract, process, liquefy, store and export LNG and its derivatives from Qatar's North Field. RasGas, on behalf of the Project Owners, exports to countries across Asia, Europe and the Americas with a total LNG production capacity of approximately 37 million tonnes per annum.
For pipeline sales gas to the domestic market, RasGas also operates the Al Khaleej Gas Projects, AKG-1 and AKG-2 supplying approximately 2.0 billion standard cubic feet (Bscf) per day. RasGas is currently adding production capacity by building the Barzan Gas Project which when fully operational in 2015, is expected to supply approximately 1.4 Bscf of additional sales gas per day to the Qatari market to meet growing demand for energy at power stations and downstream industries.
RasGas currently operates the Ras Laffan Helium Plant which was established in 2003 and came on stream in 2005. The plant extracts, purifies and liquefies helium from the North Field. The second helium plant entered production in June 2013 bringing the total liquid helium production capacity to 1.96 Bscf per year. www.rasgas.com
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 Sada, 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 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' Ras Laffan Terminal Operations team operates all the oil products Tank Farms and related Marine Terminals at Ras Laffan Industrial City in Qatar. Ras Laffan is the largest LNG and oil products Export Terminal in the world.
For media enquiries contact:
Yosra Koura
Media Relations Officer
+974 4453 1130
+974 3349 4632
yikoura@rasgas.com.qa
Ismail Parambil
Media Relations Officer
+974 4473 4181
+974 3308 835
ipparambil@rasgas.com.qa
Mariana Diaz
Media Relations Coordinator
+974 4452 3713
mdiaz@qtargas.com.qa
Nizar Ahmed
Communications Officer
+974 5552 330
nahmed@qatargas.com.qa
© Press Release 2013
