Shell Opening Up Chemical Plants in Qatar

Shell, together with Qatar Petroleum is planning for chemical plants project in Qatar. The two companies already have a gas-to-liquid (GTL) project at Ras Laffan producing 120,000 barrels per day of natural gas liquids and 140,000 barrels per day of GTL derivatives.

The chemical project was announced informally by Ben van Beurden, Shell Chemicals' executive vice president duringf the 4th Gulf Petrochemicals and Chemicals Association (GPCA) summit.

Italy Triton LNG Terminal Postponed

GDF Suez has postponed the start-up of its Triton LNG terminal in Italy from 2012 to 2013. However, the date is yet to be confirmed as the company has not taken the final investment decision. The comissioning date of 2013 may be due to lengthy process of protocols with the local and national authorities of the LNG terminal. Italy is venturing into many LNG projects as Qatar had earlier agreed to lower prices of LNG over the long run. The agreement was much influenced by the European countries as a whole.

Qatar & Malaysia Replace Pertamina LNG

Taiwan's CPC Corp which managed to secure 5.25 million metric tons of liquefied natural gas supplies from Qatar and Malaysia is not seeking new contracts from expiring contracts with Indonesia's Pertamina. This comes after Indonesia's state-owned Pertamina announced discontinued renew of supply agreements with Taiwan and South Korea to supply 1.54 million metric tons of LNG that will begin expiring this year due to declining gas production at its aging fields.

CPC has signed a 25-year contract with Qatar-based RASGAS (Ras Laffan Liquefied Natural Gas Company Co) for a 3 million metric tons LNG supply, as well as the long-term contract with Malaysia LNG, a subsidiary of Malaysia's national petroleum company, Petronas Gas Bhd amounting 2.25 million metric tons of LNG, which will expire in March 2015. On top of that, Taiwan CPC has a 2 million tons supply deal with Australia's Woodside Petroleum Ltd.