By OGJ editors
HOUSTON, Mar. 16 -- Qatar Petroleum Co. (QP) and Shell Chemicals Ltd. have signed a letter of intent in Doha for the development of a world-scale, ethane-based cracker and derivatives complex at Ras Laffan Industrial City, Qatar.
The complex, planned for start-up early in the next decade, will produce petrochemical products to be marketed primarily in Asia.
Through this agreement, QP and Shell will define the technical and commercial facets associated with constructing and operating the petrochemical complex and will determine the derivatives scope.
The project builds on the QP-Shell partnership advanced with the planned 140,000 b/d "Pearl GTL" (gas-to-liquids) plant and condensate-liquefied petroleum gas project, which is planned to become operational in 2009, and the recently announced QatarGas 4 LNG project (OGJ Online, Mar. 4, 2005).