Qatar has fast-tracked the Barzan project to produce offshore gas from its big North Field to supply the domestic market, after earlier suggestions that the project had been delayed.
Abdullah al Attiyah, the country's deputy prime minister and energy minister, says the main contract to build about US$1 billion (Dh3.67bn) of onshore facilities to process the gas would be awarded in a matter of weeks.
"The tender is open now and hopefully in one month or less, or in early 2011, they will award the contract," he said yesterday.
The $1.7bn joint venture between state-owned Qatar Petroleum (QP) and ExxonMobil will supply gas from the world's biggest gasfield to power stations and petrochemical plants in Qatar. The first phase of the project is expected to supply 1.4 billion cubic feet per day of gas to the domestic market, as Qatar makes a major push to expand its gas-based chemical industry.
Mr al Attiyah played down reports that Barzan had been delayed until 2015 because of a domestic surplus of gas, and predicted the project would be completed in late 2013 or early 2014.
"First gas flow is planned for 2014," ExxonMobil said. "The project team is currently evaluating the contract bid."
At least 10 international contractors have expressed interest in building facilities for the project, industry reports say. The winning bidder for the first phase would build two gas-processing plants.
As late as last December, that contract was expected to be awarded by the end of this year. However, the project partners delayed the development, ostensibly because of costs, while ExxonMobil considered whether it would remain as a partner in a related project to build a $6bn petrochemical plant.
Last week Royal Dutch Shell and QP signed a memorandum of understanding to develop a petrochemical complex at Ras Laffan Industrial City in Qatar to make monoethylene glycol, the main component of antifreeze, and other gas-based chemicals.
tcarlisle@thenational.ae
Basquiat in Abu Dhabi
One of Basquiat’s paintings, the vibrant Cabra (1981–82), now hangs in Louvre Abu Dhabi temporarily, on loan from the Guggenheim Abu Dhabi.
The latter museum is not open physically, but has assembled a collection and puts together a series of events called Talking Art, such as this discussion, moderated by writer Chaedria LaBouvier.
It's something of a Basquiat season in Abu Dhabi at the moment. Last week, The Radiant Child, a documentary on Basquiat was shown at Manarat Al Saadiyat, and tonight (April 18) the Guggenheim Abu Dhabi is throwing the re-creation of a party tonight, of the legendary Canal Zone party thrown in 1979, which epitomised the collaborative scene of the time. It was at Canal Zone that Basquiat met prominent members of the art world and moved from unknown graffiti artist into someone in the spotlight.
“We’ve invited local resident arists, we’ll have spray cans at the ready,” says curator Maisa Al Qassemi of the Guggenheim Abu Dhabi.
Guggenheim Abu Dhabi's Canal Zone Remix is at Manarat Al Saadiyat, Thursday April 18, from 8pm. Free entry to all. Basquiat's Cabra is on view at Louvre Abu Dhabi until October
Our family matters legal consultant
Name: Hassan Mohsen Elhais
Position: legal consultant with Al Rowaad Advocates and Legal Consultants.
RESULTS
6.30pm: Handicap (TB) $68,000 (Dirt) 1,600m
Winner: Hypothetical, Mickael Barzalona (jockey), Salem bin Ghadayer (trainer)
7.05pm: Meydan Sprint – Group 2 (TB) $163,000 (Turf) 1,000m
Winner: Equilateral, Andrea Atzeni, Charles Hills
7.40pm: Curlin Stakes – Listed Handicap (TB) $88,000 (D) 2,200m
Winner: New Trails, Fernando Jara, Ahmad bin Harmash
8.15pm: UAE Oaks – Group 3 (TB) $125,000 (D) 1,900m
Winner: Mnasek, Pat Dobbs, Doug Watson
8.50pm: Zabeel Mile – Group 2 (TB) $163,000 (T) 1,600m
Winner: D’bai, William Buick, Charlie Appleby
9.25pm: Balanchine – Group 2 (TB) $163,000 (T) 1,800m
Winner: Summer Romance, James Doyle, Charlie Appleby
10pm: Al Shindagha Sprint – Group 3 (TB) $130,000 (D) 1,200m
Winner: Al Tariq, Pat Dobbs, Doug Watson
