GPCA 2010: Shell in Talks with QP on Ras Laffan Cracker

摘要

Shell Chemicals has confirmed CW’s exclusive report that it is in discussions to form a petrochemicals joint venture in Qatar. “We are actively in discussions with Qatar Petroleum (QP) for a world-scale petrochemical complex at Ras Laffan, Qatar,” Iain John Lo, v.p. new business development & ventures at Shell Chemicals tells CW. Lo was speaking on the sidelines of the GPCA Annual Forum currently taking place in Dubai. Sources at QP tell CW that all the potential partners’ proposals are still being evaluated. They confirm that until a moratorium on gas is lifted in 2014, Qatar has enough ethane to feed just one world-scale cracker. It had originally selected ExxonMobil to invest in the project, after intense competition. A separate, mixed- feed cracker project, is being pursued by Total Petrochemicals. “We are building on the letter of intent that we signed with QP in 2006 and taking that forward,” Lo says. “The feedstock slate is still being discussed but what drives our interest is a facility to crack ethane, which would come from QP,” he says. He could not elaborate on when the talks would be completed but says, “Essentially we have a commonvision for building a world-scale petrochemical complex at Ras Laffan…we are in active discussions.” The project builds on Shell’s strong relationship with the Qataris. QP, owns a stake in PCS and in The Polyethylene Company of Singapore while Shell is a partner in the Pearl gas-to-liquids and Qatar Gas 4 complexes, both at Ras Laffan.