(MENAFN - Qatar News Agency) Qatar is well-positioned to meet the growing global demand of Gas-To-Liquid (GTL) as exports of Pearl Gas-To-Liquid (GTL) naphtha are expected to increase to over one million tons per annum while Oryx GTL naphtha exports will be stable at around 300,000 tons, Qatar International Petroleum Marketing Company (Tasweeq) Chief Executive Officer told an industry congress here Sunday.
The inaugural World GTL Congress, organized by the International Quality & Productivity Centre(IQPC), Qatar Petroleum, Pearl Shell & Oryx GTL, opened today at the St Regis Hotel, Qatar. The Congress is significant as Qatar is now the world's largest exporter of LPG and condensates, in addition to being one of the world's largest exporters of naphtha.
In his keynote address Tasweeq CEO Saad Abdulla Al Kuwari welcomed upstream and downstream industry leaders and experts, and gave an overview of Tasweeq's operations as well as its 2013 export plans to meet the growing demand for GTL in the Middle East as well as rest of the world.
"We are happy to see that Doha is once again recognized as a significant and central location for energy industry conferences. I am delighted that this Congress has attracted so many highly qualified and respected speakers from around the world, including broad participation from the GTL industry, both upstream and downstream," said Al Kuwari.
Tasweeq was created to centralize the marketing and logistics of non-LNG products that are associated with the LNG production that grew so rapidly in line with LNG increases. It is mandated as the state's sole marketer with the vision of being the world's petroleum marketing company to deliver Qatar's energy reliably, efficiently and responsibly to the world, he said.
"Tasweeq exports four categories of 'Regulated Products' which are Liquefied Petroleum Gas (LPG), field and plant condensates, sulphur, and refined products including naphtha, diesel, jet-fuel and motor gasoline.
"In 2009, Tasweeq was also given the responsibility of marketing certain 'Non-Regulated Products', including Qatar Petroleum's crude oil entitlements produced in Qatar and local petroleum sales, under agency agreement.
In 2011, GTL Naphtha, both from Oryx GTL and Pearl GTL plants, was added to Tasweeq's portfolio of light and full-range naphthas," said Al Kuwari. GTL Naphtha is considered a premium petrochemical feedstock and has much higher paraffin content than standard naphtha. As feedstock to a steam cracker, GTL naphtha has many benefits over conventional naphtha: First: it has shorter chains of five to nine carbon atoms, which means that plastic manufacturers can produce more plastic from each liter of GTL Naphtha they use; second: GTL Naphtha is used as a feedstock for chemical plants that produce the building blocks for the plastic products people rely on in everyday life, the Tasweeq CEO told the Congress.
"One of Tasweeq strength is to sell GTL Naphtha (Free-on-Board) or deliver to end-user's receiving facilities anywhere in the world. Asia Pacific has the largest demand for Middle East Naphtha, with 75% going to North East Asia.
Tasweeq will also market and sell any exports of GTL blended Jet Fuel, which will be used mainly in the aviation industry, but could also provide value in the distillates pool as zero-sulphur blend stock," Al Kuwari said.
GTL blended Jet, as an alternative to conventional Jet, will contribute to the diversification of aviation fuel supply. It is a cleaner, more environmental-friendly fuel, with lower emissions of sulphur dioxide and particulate emissions than jet fuel derived from crude oil and condensates, making it attractive for improving local air quality at and around busy airports, he said.
"In 2012, Tasweeq marketed and lifted around 300,000 tons of Oryx GTL Naphtha and 700,000 tons of Pearl GTL Naphtha starting 2013 onwards, with full operating capacity of Pearl GTL Train 2, exports of Pearl GTL Naphtha are expected to increase to over one million tons per annum, with Oryx GTL exports remaining stable at around 300,000 tons.
Production of GTL Jet (25% GTL Kerosene and 75% conventional) is expected to reach five million barrels in 2013, increasing to nearly 15 million barrels per annum at full capacity. The GTL Jet already has been consumed locally in Qatar, and any surplus will be exported by Tasweeq," Al Kuwari told the Congress.
As a sole marketer of several grades of Naphtha, Tasweeq can provide buyers flexibility in product types and grades in order to optimize timing and logistics to better meet the market needs. Buyers can co-load different naphthas, depending on feedstock requirements. Having two-port flexibility also increases Qatar's logistics advantage in case of operational issues at any port.
In conclusion Al Kuwari said, the global energy markets will continue to change. "The world faces a multitude of challenges, energy being among them. As a sole State Marketer, we believe GTL growth in the Middle East is well-positioned to meet growing demand around the globe."
Tasweeq is the Diamond Sponsor of the World GTL Congress.
