Doris Leblond
OGJ correspondent
PARIS, Dec. 22 -- Qatar Liquefied Gas Co. Ltd. II (Qatargas II) has awarded a $4 billion contract to a joint venture of Technip SA and Chiyoda Corp. to perform engineering and construction of Trains 4 and 5 at the Qatargas LNG liquefaction plant in Ras Laffan, Qatar.
The trains, each expected to produce a minimum of 7.8 million tonnes/year of LNG, will be the world's largest. Technip claims the contract is the largest service contract signed in the industry. Start-up of Train 4 is scheduled for late 2007 and Train 5, about 9 months later.
The LNG will go to the UK, where the £500 million South Hook regasification terminal at Milford Haven, Wales, will be built by affiliates of Qatargas, ExxonMobil Corp., and Chicago Bridge & Iron, The Woodlands, Tex.
Qatargas II has invested in North gas field development off Qatar, the Qatar LNG storage facilities, and LNG carriers (OGJ Online, July 11, 2003). The Qatargas II LNG plant site, where the two new trains will be built, came on stream in 1996. The three existing trains currently produce more than 8 million tonnes/year of LNG.
Financing of the $7.6 billion Qatargas II project is being provided by 57 financial institutions with White & Case, London, representing Qatergas II sponsors Qatar Petroleum 70% and ExxonMobil Qatargas Inc. 30%.
