Qafac expansion approved

16 April 2004
Shareholders in Qatar Fuel Additives Company (Qafac)have approved a major expansion in methanol capacity at the Mesaieed-based producer. The expansion calls for the addition of a 6,750-tonne-a-day methanol train at an estimated cost of $600 million. Project completion is set for late 2007/early 2008 (MEED 13:2:04).

Qafac has already selected a number of advisers for the project. Societe Generalehas been appointed financial adviser and London-based Norton Rose, the legal adviser. Germany's Lurgiis in line to win the technology licence contract. Project management will be carried out in-house by Qafac shareholders, with the main responsibility resting with Taiwan's Chinese Petroleum Corporation (CPC).

Qafac's existing plant, inaugurated in October 1999 at a cost of $670 million, has nameplate capacity of 832,500 tonnes a year (t/y) of methanol and 610,000 t/y of methyl tertiary butyl ether (MTBE). The company's shareholders are Qatar Petroleum with 50 per cent, CPC (20 per cent), Taiwan's Lee Chang Yung Chemical Industry Corporation(15 per cent) and Canada's International Octane(15 per cent).

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