The prequalifiers are Germany's Linde, Mitsubishi Heavy Industriesand Toyo Engineering Corporation, both of Japan, Italy's Snamprogetti, US-based Bechtel, and Kvaerner E&C, part of the Oslo-based AkerKvaerner Group.

The plant is scheduled to come on stream in the second half of 2006. The Qatofin project will receive ethylene feedstock from the Ras Laffan ethane cracker, which is now under bid following the release of ITBs in July by Qatar Chemical Company II (Q-Chem II), the company that manages the project on behalf of the client, Ras Laffan Ethylene Company. The package involves the construction of a 1.3 million-t/y cracker. An ethylene pipeline, which will run from the plant to Mesaieed, will be tendered separately (MEED 1:8:03).

Qatofin is a joint venture between Qatar Petrochemical Company, Atofinaof France, and Qatar Petroleum (QP). Qatofin's financial adviser is HSBC, while Royal Bank of Scotlandis acting as financial adviser for the Q-Chem II project (MEED 20:9:02).