Newspapers Highlight Strategic, Pioneering Barzan Gas Project

Doha, March 16 (QNA) - In their editorials on Wednesday, the newspapers highlighted that HH the Amir Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al-Thani inaugurated the Barzan Gas Plant project at Ras Laffan Industrial City on Tuesday morning, pointing out that the unprecedented environmental value of the Barzan Gas project is part of the clean energy transformation plan. and it is a locally and globally pioneering project. The papers commended the Barzan Gas Plant project, which is considered a qualitative addition with strategic dimensions for the future of the Qatari economy and the security of energy supplies in the world, adding that it is the largest project after the Pearl Gas-to-Liquids (GTL) project that was launched in 2011, at an investment of up to USD 19 billion, in addition to having a high quality value in meeting Qatar's gas needs. The papers agreed that under the leadership of HH the Amir, the State of Qatar is moving steadily towards the global leadership of the gas industry, based on its international position as a secure source of energy supplies, despite the circumstances and challenges that the world is experiencing at the present time, adding that this pioneering project will support the strategic projects of the state within its National Vision 2030. In its editorial on Wednesday, Al-Arab newspaper affirmed that this huge project is but another step of Qatar's endeavors to provide clean energy, noting that it proves the country's keenness on sustainable development and achieving a high quality of life to improve the health and well-being of residents throughout the country, as well as meeting the local needs for gas supplies at the same time. The paper said that HH the Amir Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al-Thani explained yesterday at Ras Laffan Industrial City, the project's role in achieving sustainable growth and meeting local gas supply needs, after inaugurating the project, adding that His Highness indicated that the country's major projects and development plans are based on the harmonization between energy use and environmental preservation. On HH the Amir's official account on Twitter, His Highness said that the State of Qatar has taken important steps towards optimal utilization of its vital resources in providing clean energy, meeting local needs and supporting the country's major strategic projects, the paper added. The paper also commended the project, which has been undergoing work since 2011, adding that during the construction phase, the project workforce peaked at 30,000 workers on site and achieved an outstanding safety performance, including over 130 million manhours without a Lost Time Incident. Al-Arab concluded its editorial by saying that the project is named after the famed historic Barzan Towers, also known as the Umm Salal Mohammed Fort Towers that were originally built in the late 19th century, which reflects linking Qatar's ancient past to the bright present and the prosperous, promising future. For its part, Al-Sharq newspaper explained, in its editorial, that the Barzan Gas Project at Ras Laffan Industrial City, which HH the Amir Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al-Thani inaugurated Tuesday morning, marks a new and distinct stage in the history of the Qatari and international gas industry. HH the Amir Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al-Thani affirmed that the State of Qatar has taken important steps towards optimal utilization of its vital resources in providing clean energy, meeting local needs and supporting the country's major strategic projects and development plans based on the harmonization between energy use and environmental preservation, the newspaper said. Al-Sharq pointed out that the Barzan Gas Project is not an normal project in terms of numbers, indicating that it is a qualitative addition with strategic dimensions for the future of the Qatari economy and the security of the world's energy supply, as it is the largest project after the Pearl GTL, which was launched in 2011 at a cost of USD 19 billion. The project also provides high quality value in meeting Qatar's gas needs, the newspaper said. The paper added that the project provides gas for electricity generation and desalination in the country, and will contribute to the production of almost 1.4 billion cubic feet of methane gas per day. The project's production of liquefied gas will contribute to increasing the exports of Qatar, which is the largest exporter of about 10 million tons of gas per year. Al-Sharq concluded its editorial by saying that the project has an unprecedented environmental value within the clean energy transformation plan, and therefore the Barzan Gas Project is a pioneering project locally and internationally. For its turn, Al-Raya newspaper stated in its editorial that the State of Qatar has set strategic goals to protect the environment and move towards clean energy, and for that it has taken great steps to maintain its position as a country that leads global efforts to advance the clean gas industry. It noted, in this context, the affirmation of HH the Amir Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al-Thani during the inauguration of the Barzan Gas Project at Ras Laffan Industrial City on Tuesday, that the State of Qatar has taken important steps towards optimal utilization of its vital resources in providing clean energy, meeting local needs and supporting the country's major strategic projects and development plans based on the harmonization between energy use and environmental preservation. The newspaper stressed that the State of Qatar, under the leadership of HH the Amir, is steadily proceeding towards the leadership of the gas industry globally, based on its international position as a guaranteed source of energy supplies, despite the circumstances and challenges that the world is experiencing at the present time. This pioneering project inaugurated by HH the Amir will support the strategic projects of the state within its National Vision 2030, the newspaper explained. The newspaper pointed out that the Barzan Gas Project in Ras Laffan Industrial City produces approximately 1 billion and 400 million cubic feet of methane per day to generate electricity in the State of Qatar, and the project also produces 1,920 tons of ethane per day as a raw material for the local petrochemical industries and liquefied petroleum gas in the form of 864 tons of propane per day and 677 tons of butane per day for international export, in addition to 5,600 barrels of factory condensate per day for international export, 24,200 barrels of unprocessed field condensate per day delivered to Laffan Refinery, and 3,565 tons of liquid sulfur per day. Al-Raya considered the project, as HE Minister of State for Energy Affairs Saad Sherida Al-Kaabi said, one of the most important energy projects in Qatar, as it adds a high quality value in meeting our local needs of natural gas, and in supporting the comprehensive and economic developments of the country. Al-Raya concluded its editorial by saying that Qatar has become the capital of gas production in the world and an element of security and stability for high production thanks to the wise leadership. By hosting the Sixth Summit of the Gas Exporting Countries Forum last February, Qatar was keen to renew the call for member states for more work and achievement at various levels to secure clean energy sources in support of the green economy at the global level. For its part, English-language newspaper The Peninsula stressed that the State of Qatar passed another milestone in its sustainable development efforts through harnessing its natural resources to meet the energy needs of the country. The Qatari daily newspaper said that HH the Amir Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al-Thani inaugurated the Barzan Gas Project at Ras Laffan Industrial City yesterday, which marked an important step in the march toward optimal utilization of the country's resources in providing clean energy. The paper explained that Barzan Gas Project is a project developed by joint venture (JV) of QatarEnergy and ExxonMobil with the JV appointed RasGas as the project manager, pointing out that the plant provides natural gas to augment the current and future developments such as power plants, desalination plants, airport, sea ports and other vital infrastructure projects. The Peninsula underlined that the State of Qatar has been very diligent in its exploitation and use of natural resources, making sure that developments and environment protection goes hand in hand. Qatar has implemented several programmes to control air pollution, reduce emission of harmful gases and increase reliance on renewable energy, the newspaper added. The Qatari daily newspaper stressed that the State of Qatar has been playing an important role in global efforts to mitigate climate change, pointing out that Doha will host the world's first carbon neutral FIFA World Cup this year. In conclusion, The Peninsula affirmed that the State of Qatar was among the first countries to sign global climate pacts, noting the country's support for small island states and least developed states to help them deal with climate change. (QNA)