Qatargas has announced that the combined refining capacity of Ras Laffan Refinery 1 (LR1) and Ras Laffan Refinery 2 (LR2) will make Laffan Refinery the largest condensate facility in the world
Salman Ashkanani, CEO of Refinery Ventures at Qatargas, said that LR2 is expected to process 71,000 bpsd of naphtha, 60,800 bpsd of kerosene, 27,000 bpsd of gasoil and 2,406 cubic metres of LPG, including butane and propane, once completed in Q3 2016.
The engineering, procurement, supply, construction and commissioning (EPSCC) contracts were awarded in April 2013 to a joint venture of japan based-Chiyoda Corporation and Taiwanese CTCI Corporation.
According to Ashkanani, LR2, along with other projects, will strengthen the country’s capacity to meet increasing demand for transport fuels, especially Jet A-1 (low sulphur jet fuel). A pipeline is currently under construction from the refinery to the Hamad International Airport.
Besides major refinery products, the Qatargas said that LR-related projects such as the diesel hydrotreater will also produce low sulphur diesel to serve the local market. Once completed by April 30 this year, it will process 54,000 bpsd of diesel for domestic use.
Like LR1, all LR2 products will be hydro-treated to reduce sulphur content. It was also designed for zero water disposal, that is, no wastewater into the sea, the company added.
The LR2 shareholders includes Qatar Petroleum with 84 per cent, Total with 10 per cent, Idemitsu and Cosmo each carrying two per cent, and Marubeni and Mitsui holding one per cent each.
