UpdateShell confirms interest in Qatar petrochemicals project

01 December 2010 12:46  [Source: ICIS news]

(Updates ExxonMobil’s position in fifth paragraph and adds response)

LONDON (ICIS)--Shell is continuing to discuss with Qatar Petroleum the development of a petrochemicals complex in Qatar, a spokesman for the Anglo-Dutch group said on Wednesday.

“We still have great interest in working with the Qataris and believe we have the technologies, project management and marketing expertise to add value to such a project,” he said.

Qatari energy minister Abdullah al-Attiyah said on Tuesday that Qatar is in talks with Shell and Belgium-based Total Petrochemicals to develop the petrochemicals complex in Ras Laffan, Qatar.

“We are in talks with Total, and we are talking to Shell,” he was quoted by Reuters as saying.

ExxonMobil said it had had been discussing the project with Qatar Petroleum but was now waiting on a decision to proceed.

Earlier, sources familiar with the project suggested the US-based group had exited the scheme.

“We signed a Heads of Agreement with Qatar Petroleum in January to progress joint development of a world scale petrochemical complex in Ras Laffan,” said ExxonMobil spokesman George Pietrogallo.

“Since then, we have progressed work jointly with Qatar Petroleum and are awaiting a decision to proceed.”

Graeme Burnett, Total Petrochemicals’ senior vice president for Asia and the Middle East told ICIS last week that Total Petrochemicals and Qatar Petroleum were in early discussions about a cracker project in Qatar.

To discuss issues facing the chemical industry go to ICIS connect

By: Anna Jagger
+44 20 8652 3214

For the latest chemical news, data and analysis that directly impacts your business sign up for a free trial to ICIS news - the breaking online news service for the global chemical industry.

Get the facts and analysis behind the headlines from our market leading weekly magazine: sign up to a free trial to ICIS Chemical Business.

Printer Friendly