Qatar to boost gas output capacity despite rift with Arab neighbours

Qatar Petroleum plans to boost gas production from its giant North Field, which it shares with Iran, by 20% after new gas development, QP’s chief executive said on Tuesday, despite sanctions imposed on the state by its neighbours.

Qatar in April lifted a self-imposed ban on development of the North Field, the world’s biggest natural gas field, and announced a new project to develop its southern section, increasing output in five to seven years. That new project will raise Qatar’s total liquefied natural gas production capacity by 30% to 100 million tonnes from 77 million tonnes per year, Qatar Petroleum’s CEO Saad al-Kaabi told a news conference in Doha. Global LNG demand was 265 million tonnes in 2016, according to Royal Dutch Shell’s annual LNG outlook.

“After further assessment, we have decided that the best way to develop this huge project is by dedicating it to the production and export of liquefied natural gas,” Kaabi said.

“The best option would be to double the size of the project to 4 billion cubic feet of gas per day... This project will strengthen our position as the world’s largest LNG producer.” REUTERS

QATAR IN APRIL LIFTED A SELFIMPOSED BAN ON DEVELOPMENT OF THE NORTH FIELD, WORLD’S BIGGEST NATURAL GAS FIELD, AND ANNOUNCED PLANS TO DEVELOP ITS SOUTHERN SECTION