Qatar's Laffan lets contract for refinery expansion

Laffan Refinery Co. Ltd. let a lump-sum, front-end engineering and design (FEED) contract of an undisclosed sum to Technip SA for the Laffan refinery's Phase 2 expansion.

The planned expansion would double the refinery’s current throughput capacity to 292,000 b/sd. The facility will be fully operational by first-quarter 2016.

The expansion will allow Qatar to meet domestic demand for naphtha, diesel, LPG, and jet fuel while becoming a net exporter of diesel and other refined products, instead of an importer, Qatargas Chief Executive Officer Khalid bin Khalifa Al Thani said in a statement. Qatar is seeking to boost exports of refined products such as diesel to southeast Asia and Europe.

Qatargas, which operates the Laffan refinery, said FEED contract work is slated to be completed by first-quarter 2012. The engineering, procurement, and construction contract, meanwhile, is expected to be awarded by third-quarter 2012.

Contact Eric Watkins at [email protected].