ID :
246792
Sun, 07/08/2012 - 21:28
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Shell: Qatar Ideally Placed to Take on Important role of R&D Hub for Energy Industry

Doha, July 08 (QNA) - The gas-to-liquids (GTL) process offers an alternative route to monetise gas resources by turning it into high-quality liquid hydrocarbons which are heavily demanded in the rapidly-expanding Asian markets and elsewhere across the globe, according to the Executive Vice-President and Chairman of Qatar Shell and Managing Director of Pearl GTL Wael Sawan. Sawan told the global publishing, research and consultancy firm Oxford Business Group (OBG) that Qatar Shell was focusing on creating the supply chains needed to bring gas-to-liquids products to the market. "Products like GTL gasoil and GTL naphtha should register a significant growth in demand from today to about the year 2020, and a significant part of that growth will come from demand within Asian markets," he said. "We have invested not only in Asia Pacific but also in Europe and the US where we can see potential for these products." The discussion with Sawan will appear in The Report: Qatar 2012, the Group s forthcoming guide on the country's economic activity and investment opportunities, produced with research assistance from the Ministry of Business and Trade, Qatar National Bank, The Advisors and Clyde & Co. The report will include a detailed, sector-by-sector guide for foreign investors, alongside a wide range of interviews with the most prominent political, economic and business leaders. Sawan said Qatar was ideally placed to take on the increasingly important role of research and development (R&D) hub for the energy industry, given its abundant oil and gas facilities, and the high number of key players located there. He said many cutting edge collaborative programs were already up and running, including a joint initiative between Qatar Petroleum, Imperial College and Qatar Shell which was exploring the key area of carbonates. "Having a facility where all these entities can come together is a massive boost," he said. "Increasingly, we see the enthusiasm of academics and researchers, and more importantly, the appetite of companies." The Report: Qatar 2012 will mark the culmination of more than eight months of on-the-ground research by a team of analysts from the Group. It will provide information on opportunities for foreign direct investment into Qatar's economy and will act as a guide to the many facets of the country including its macroeconomics, infrastructure, banking and sectoral developments. (QNA)

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