Q: There is a great deal of concern in the UK over rising electricity and energy prices – do you think the country is paying a fair price for natural gas or is gas still cheap compared with other major fuel sources?
Al-Sada: "As a power source, gas remains extremely attractive economically. It is efficient in generating power, and it is very clean compared to coal and oil. Price-wise it remains significantly cheaper than oil in the UK on a thermal basis."
Q: What kind of opportunities in the UK energy industry is Qatar interested in pursuing? Would you look at downstream ventures in terms of distribution/marketing?
Al-Sada: "Qatar is certainly interested in various investment opportunities in the UK, particularly in the LNG and petrochemical businesses. Our international equity participation is looked after by Qatar Petroleum International (QPI), which is Qatar Petroleum’s main vehicle for international activities, and which is entrusted with making strategic commercial investments in the energy sector worldwide. The company aims to acquire assets through exploration & production projects and engage in strategic partnerships and business investments worldwide in the fields of petrochemicals, gas, power, refineries and LNG receiving stations.
QPI is always interested in the wholesale selling and transportation of LNG to the UK, and that is Qatar’s strength as a major LNG producer.
The distribution and marketing of downstream products is currently the responsibility of Qatar Chemical and Petrochemical Marketing and Distribution Company (Muntajat), which holds exclusive rights to purchase, market, distribute and sell Qatar's production of chemical and petrochemical regulated products to the global market."
Q: How has the development of shale gas in the US changed Qatar’s long-term strategy in terms of gas?
Al-Sada: "On the long term, our strategy remains essentially unchanged, thanks to our flexibility and our ability to respond to changes in the global gas market.
When we embarked on the massive expansion of our LNG business some 20 years ago, a key objective was to ensure we could respond to changes in the global gas market. This was essential, in order for us to mitigate the risk exposure of hub-based LNG prices such as in the US. This is something no one else was willing to do at that time. We deliberately set out to have the flexibility to vary the geographic balance of our sales.
Therefore, we do not consider the US shale gas revolution to be a game changer but rather a validation of Qatar’s strategy. Global gas demand has been growing consistently and we have had the flexibility to re-plan our LNG marketing to meet growing demand in Asia and elsewhere.
Qatar’s role as an undisputed leader in the global energy market is set to remain for years to come."
Q: What are the current plans concerning the next round of development of the North Field and what part could British companies hope to play?
Al-Sada: "We have achieved our initial strategy with respect to our North Field, which include achieving our target of 77 million tonnes of LNG export capability, and supplying all the needs of local power and industrial consumers. The commissioning of the Barzan gas project, starting in 2014, will enable us to meet growing local demand for at least the next 20 years.
Currently, the major objective for the North Field is to conduct a comprehensive evaluation of all the reservoir, well data and models in order to develop the optimum strategy for the long-term future of the field.
But even though the North Field will be at plateau production, we still expect to spend around $3 billion of capital expenditure over the next 5 years, excluding Barzan, and we hope that British companies will want to compete for the contracts to deliver these projects."
Q: Could a natural gas version of OPEC work as a mechanism to provide stability to global gas markets?
Al-Sada: "A gas version of OPEC would not work. This is because the industry structures for gas markets and oil markets are very different in terms of supply commitment, costs, liquidity, and competing fuels.
We currently have the Gas Exporting Countries Forum, which is a gathering of producers working together to advance the gas industry, and to promote the use of gas and the development of resources.
The Forum has no provisions or intentions to influence or interfere in gas markets, including production volumes and prices."
Q: What structure do you advocate in terms of gas pricing – should this be somehow linked to oil?
Al-Sada: "The international natural gas trade is geographically divided between three regional markets: the US, Europe (which is supplied mainly by pipelines), and Asia (which is supplied by LNG).
These regional markets determine natural gas prices differently, depending on the sources of supply, geographical and political factors, and the level of market liquidity and maturity.
The discussion about the relationship between the prices of natural gas and oil is not new, however it has intensified over the last few years as the ratio of oil to natural gas prices in certain markets reached high levels and distorted the overall market stability.
As for LNG pricing mechanisms, Qatar has always supported the view that long term contracts based on oil indexation are a more predictable and reliable mechanism for all concerned in the industry. What the industry needs is a stable and fair price to justify the level of investment needed to meet future demand for natural gas. In our view, it is the investments we make today that will determine the resources to be available in the market tomorrow."
Q: How much of a concern is the security of LNG supply routes out of the Gulf via the Strait of Hormuz? Are there contingencies in place if it were shut off for any reason?
Al-Sada: "I believe that no single party has an interest in closing the Straits of Hormuz, through which 17 million barrels of crude oil is shipped every day.
Throughout several decades of geo-political turmoil and three Gulf wars, never was this strategic waterway ever closed.
Any conflict that would hinder the free flow of energy supplies does not concern us in this region alone, but would concern the entire world, which fully understands the ramifications of any action affecting the straits.
The government of the State of Qatar maintains a policy of seeking peaceful resolution to differences and conflicts in this region and on the global level. This, among other things, will mitigate any risks or dangers posed to international trade routes, particularly energy supplies."
Q: What are the opportunities for oil in Qatar – will you be opening up new acreage?
Al-Sada: "Qatar has been and remains a relatively small producer of crude oil, compared to its neighbors. During the 1970s, Qatar's oil production peaked at around 500,000 bpd. As fields aged, production started to decline until it reached around 300,000 bpd in 1987. In the early 1990's, a number of production sharing agreements were signed with various international oil companies which resulted in Qatar's total crude oil production to exceed 800,000 bpd in 2006, before it settled in 2008 at its current level of 700,000 bpd.
The results of exploration activities were initially disappointing and some exploration blocks were relinquished for lack of potential. However, during the last few years, a number of new exploration and production sharing agreements were signed to explore for both oil and gas. QP is currently evaluating the possibility of opening up new areas for further exploration.
Although Qatar's petroleum production has grown steadily for many years, its oil fields are maturing. We look to offset further declines by the use of Improved and Enhanced Oil Recovery Techniques, which are currently being used in several fields.
A major strategy rethink took place on the fields under Qatar Petroleum's direct operation. Major reservoir and field-wide studies have been initiated to re-assess the reserves, and the long term production prospects for each field. Re-development will be pursued in light of the outcome of the studies."
Q: Qatar has been an innovator in terms of LNG and most recently GTL – will we see more in terms of making strategic investments in terms of how you monetize the gas downstream?
Al-Sada: "Qatar Petroleum has embarked on an ambitious plan to further develop Qatar’s downstream sector, consolidating its position as a major player in the industry. Our long term hydrocarbon development strategy is opening new opportunities for further downstream development, which includes raising Qatar’s petrochemical output to 23 million tones per year by 2020.
We are investing in mega-expansion schemes that are designed to add further value to our natural hydrocarbon wealth. Such projects include Al-Karaana Petrochemical Project, a QP-Shell joint venture. This world-scale steam cracker will mainly produce mono-ethylene glycol, LAO and OXO alcohol, and is projected to start in 2018.
Another project to mention is AL-Sejeel, a JV between QP and QAPCO, which will use ethane, butane and GTL naphtha as feedstock to produce Ethylene (1.5 million tonnes per year), High Density Polyethylene (1 million tonnes per year), Linear Low Density Polyethylene (550 thousand tonnes per year), and Poly Propylene (540 thousand tonnes per year).
Qatar’s downstream development includes the Gasoline and Aromatics project (with a capacity of 1 million tonnes per year of Paraxylene, 500,000 tonnes per year of Benzene, and 60,000 barrels per day of gasoline); the Linear Alkyl Benzene (LAB) Project (with a capacity of 100,000 metric tons per year of LAB); and the Butadiene Synthetic Rubber plant (with an approximate capacity of 170,000 tonnes per year of butadiene and rubber derivatives).
The Laffan Condensate Refinery Project Phase 2 (LR2) is one of the important downstream projects in Qatar. The new condensate refinery is similar to the existing LR1 refinery, and has a processing capacity of 146,000 barrels per day. The additional product capacity will feed other downstream projects, in addition to increasing the quantity of refined products like diesel and jet fuel for the local consumption as well as for exports."
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