Doha, 4 June 2014

TAFAWOQ, the world-class Project Management Centre of Excellence, recently held a series of Risk Management workshops for professionals from ASTAD, Qatar's leading Project Management Consultancy.

The customised courses form part of a learning agreement signed between ASTAD and TAFAWOQ, the centre established in partnership with Qatar Petroleum, Hamad bin Khalifa University and Qatar Shell. Through the agreement, TAFAWOQ is further developing the   competencies of Qatar's project management professionals, and ultimately helping them deliver the country's extraordinary capital investment projects.

The bespoke workshops were designed for ASTAD's specific needs and delivered by a group of world-class project management professionals to ensure continued investment in the professional development of these project managers.

Commenting on the first of its kind partnership with ASTAD, Saad Rashid Al Muhannadi, Technical Director of QP and Chairman of TAFAWOQ's Joint Steering Committee, said, "The success of the 'Best Practice Risk Management Workshop' with ASTAD demonstrates TAFAWOQ's value beyond the energy industry. We are keen to share the relevant skills and experience with Qatar's broader project management community. We also want to provide people in Qatar with the opportunity to acquire leadership and project management skills in order to increase the country's professional capacity and build on the Qatar National Vision 2030."

He added, "We are confident that by nurturing project management professionals such as those at ASTAD, we will drive Qatar's extraordinary capital investment projects."

In total, more than 60 employees from ASTAD participated in four sessions, gaining a wide range of relevant and applicable risk management skills that were later applied to a real ASTAD case study. Prior to moving to the next level, the participants were then required to pass the Association of Project Management (APM) Project Risk Management Level 1 Exam.

Ali Bin Nasser Al-Khalifa, CEO of ASTAD, said, "The skillset our employees have acquired as a result of TAFAWOQ's Risk Management sessions will strengthen ASTAD's project management consultancy services for complex and challenging infrastructure and building projects here in Qatar. We are delighted with our collaboration with TAFAWOQ, and look forward to a long and fruitful partnership."

Confirming their positive experience with the TAFAWOQ Workshops, participants from ASTAD had a variety of positive comments to share.

Ahmad Al-Anbari, Project Engineer, said, "The course has assisted us to apply Risk Management to our projects in an organised structured manner. The quality of the course as a whole was excellent."

Another participant, Mohamed Al-Marzouqi, Project Manager, noted, "I consider the course a good first step in Risk Management. The instructors were very well experienced and professional; they facilitated the case studies in a very practical manner which will enhance our way of thinking when initiating, identifying, assessing and implementing risk planning. In addition, the course has helped us to look at a risk as an opportunity rather than a threat only. "

TAFAWOQ is currently working on developing and organising the next level of Risk Management workshop for ASTAD, which will be delivered at the end of 2014.  

TAFAWOQ holds a number of project management sessions throughout the year. Most recently, it hosted the 'Applying Project Control' (APC) course. Facilitated by two esteemed facilitators from the project management industry, 13 individuals from Qatar Petroleum, Kuwait Oil Company (KOC) and Ooredoo completed this course successfully. 

For information about TAFAWOQ and its programmes, please visit: www.tafawoq.com  

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About Qatar Shell
Shell is the largest foreign investor in Qatar investing up to $21 billion in the last 6 years. Qatar Petroleum and Shell delivered two of the largest energy projects in the world in Ras Laffan Industrial City. Pearl Gas to Liquids (GTL) is the world's largest GTL plant and cements Qatar's position as the GTL capital of the world. At an investment of $ 18 - 19 billion it is the largest single investment in the Shell Group's global portfolio.

The Qatargas 4 Liquefied Natural Gas project (QP (70%) and Shell (30%)) combines Shell's global leadership in LNG with Qatar's position as the world's largest LNG supplier.

Shell has established a world-class research and development facility and a learning centre, the Qatar Shell Research & Technology Centre, at the Qatar Science & Technology Park. Shell has a financial commitment to invest up to $100 million on programmes at the Centre over a 10-year period.

In 2010, Shell and PetroChina signed an agreement with QP to explore in the pre-Khuff interval in Block D. In December 2011 Shell and QP signed a HOA to jointly develop a world-class petrochemicals complex in Ras Laffan Industrial City.

About Qatar Petroleum
Qatar Petroleum (QP) is a state-owned public corporation established by Emiri Decree No. 10 in 1974. It is responsible for all phases of the oil and gas industry in the State of Qatar.

The principal activities of QP, its subsidiaries and joint ventures are the exploration, production, local and international sale of crude oil, natural gas and gas liquids, refined products, synthetic fuels, petrochemicals, fuel additives, fertilizers, liquefied natural gas (LNG), steel and aluminium.

QP's strategy of conducting hydrocarbon exploration and development is through Exploration and Production Sharing Agreements (EPSA) and Development and Production Sharing Agreements (DPSA) concluded with major international oil and gas companies.

The operations and activities of QP and its affiliates are conducted at various onshore locations, including Doha, Dukhan and the Mesaieed and Ras Laffan Industrial Cities, as well as offshore areas, including Halul Island, offshore production stations, drilling platforms and the North Field.

Thriving on a spirit of enterprise, each of our joint ventures is underpinned by transparency, innovation and high standards of quality and service. At Qatar Petroleum, we are committed to one thing above all: Excellence.

About Hamad bin Khalifa University
Hamad bin Khalifa University (HBKU), a member of Qatar Foundation for Education, Science and Community Development, is an emerging research university building upon unique collaborations with local and international partners. Located in Education City, HBKU seeks to provide unparalleled opportunities for scholarship, teaching, discovery, and learning for all of its students through an array of interdisciplinary programs.

HBKU's partners are Virginia Commonwealth University in Qatar, Weill Cornell Medical College in Qatar, Texas A&M University at Qatar, Carnegie Mellon University in Qatar, Georgetown University School of Foreign Service in Qatar, Northwestern University in Qatar, HEC Paris in Qatar, and University College London Qatar.

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© Press Release 2014