Qatargas Readies for Historic LNG Train Start Up

11 March, 2009, Doha, Qatar: Qatargas Operating Company is in final stages of commissioning and start up of the first world’s largest liquefied natural gas mega-trains being built at Ras Laffan Industrial City.

Qatargas 2 Train 4 is expected to commence LNG production and load its first shipment in the coming weeks.

Mr. Faisal Al Suwaidi, Chief Executive Officer, Qatargas said; “This is an exciting time for the company as we prepare to start up our first mega-train.  Train 4 will be capable of producing 7.8 million tonnes of LNG per annum.”

“The Qatargas 2 venture is unprecedented as a fully integrated LNG project and incorporates more than 40 new or step-out technologies to achieve massive economies of scale.  The start-up of Train 4 will mark a historic milestone for the LNG industry and help cement Qatar’s leadership in the LNG world.”

Qatargas 2 Train 4 will be used to supply markets primarily in the United Kingdom, Europe and Asia. 

Construction of Train 5, the second Qatargas 2 train is progressing well and nearing completion

In addition to Trains 4 and 5, Qatargas 3 Train 6 is expected to come online in 2010.  And Qatargas 4 Train 7 is also planned for start up around the end of the decade.  This will bring production capacity to 42 mtpa by the end of the decade.

The inauguration celebrations for Qatargas 2 will take place in April 6th 2009.