Shell is expected to partner Qatar Petroleum in the recently revived petrochemical project at Ras Laffan, according to Energy Intelligence publication, citing people with knowledge of the situation. Shell was formerly a partner with Qatar Petroleum in the multi-billion dollar Al-Karaana petrochemical project at Ras Laffan, but this was shelved in 2015 because of high investment costs and the collapse in the oil price. Qatar Petroleum has since revived plans for the complex and in May 2018 invited international companies to submit proposals for partnering with it. The new complex will include an ethane cracker with capacity for more than 1.6 million metric tons/year (MMt/y) of ethylene, making it the largest ethane cracker in the Middle East, and one of the largest in the world, Qatar Petroleum says. It will also include world-scale derivatives plants, which will consolidate Qatar’s position among the leading petrochemical producers. Start-up is scheduled for 2025. Qatar recently said that it would allow foreign companies to hold up to 49% in joint ventures in the energy sector, up from the current 20%.
