Qatar’s Second Deputy Premier and Minister of Energy and Industry H E Abdullah bin Hamad Al Attiyah said that the country would continue expanding its hydrocarbon sector in 2005. Qatar has made major strides in becoming a world leader in liquefied natural gas (LNG) exports in 2004; concluding several gas-to-liquids (gtl)
project agreements, long term charter of LNG vessels, tie-ups with multinationals, etc.
While speaking to Qatar News Agency, Attiyah expressed confidence that Qatar would sign several more deals in the oil and gas exploration and downstream sector. Attiyah expects Qatar to double expansion of refinery products to reach 140,000 bpd from 60,000 bpd.
Production of clean energy of diesel and naphtha is expected to increase to 34,000 bpd due to the Oryx-Qatar joint project being set up by Qatar Petroleum and Sasol of South Africa. Diesel production is estimated to eventually increase to 400,000 bpd, by the next decade.