By an OGJ Online Correspondent
DOHA, Jan. 8 -- A memorandum of understanding for sales of Qatari gas to the island state of Bahrain supports Qatar's plans to establish a gas grid between the countries of the Gulf Cooperation Council, said Qatari Minister of Energy and Industry Abdullah Bin Hamad Al-Attiyah.
Qatar, Bahrain, and ExxonMobil Middle East Gas Marketing Ltd. signed the memorandum Tuesday, said the Organization of Petroleum Exporting Countries' news agency.
The agreement establishes a framework for the proposed agreement. A committee formed by the parties will carry out a gas utilization study, finalize a heads-of-agreement, and complete a long-term sales-and-purchase agreement.
Bahraini Minister of Oil Isa bin Ali al Khalifa said the agreement will give Bahrain another energy supply source to meet its industrial development needs.
Qatar and ExxonMobil signed a development and production-sharing agreement in May 2000 for the enhanced gas utilization project.
The scheme will produce a nominal capacity of 1.75 bcfd of gas to supply both domestic and regional markets.