QAPCO recognizes staff at long service award ceremony

The ceremony was held at the Sheraton Hotel in Doha for the staff who have worked in QAPCO from 10-30 years. Certificates of recognition and appreciation prizes were awarded.

It has been QAPCO's tradition to hold such ceremony as appreciation and encouragement of its staff to enhance their performance and output and in recognition of their faith and devotion to hard work.

Throughout this award ceremony, Eng. Hamad Rashid Al-Mohannadi, Vice Chairman and General Manager of QAPCO has made a speech on this occasion. He congratulated the audience on Eid Al-Fitre, and welcomed the guests and the honored staff. He thanked the long service staff for their sincere efforts throughout their past service.

Eng. Al-Mohannadi pointed out that Qatar has been witnessing huge developments in all walks of life and that many infrastructure projects are being implemented these days and constant preparations and great efforts are also being exerted for the upcoming 15th Asian Games due to be held in Qatar next Dec. 2006.

Al-Mohanadi also said that the industrial sector in Qatar has also witnessed great leaps and distinctive developments which have left positive impacts on different aspects of life in the country. For instance, vital projects are now underway in the petrochemical and downstream industries that aim at diversifying the income resources in Qatar and boosting its economical potentials and thus providing a dignified life for the people.

He reviewed the expansion petrochemical projects that QAPCO is now implementing. On top of these projects is the Ethylene Expansion Project (EP2), to increase the production capacity of ethylene from 525 Kmtpa to 720 Kmtpa. The estimated costs of the project amount to US $ 220 mn and it is expected to be completed by the second quarter of 2007.

Another vital project is QATOFIN, which is a joint venture signed by QAPCO (63%), TOTAL PETROCHEMICALS, (formerly ATOFINA), (36%) and QP (1 %) to establish a Linear Low Density Polyethylene (LLDPE) plant in Mesaieed, adjacent to the existing QAPCO plant. The feedstock Ethylene is to be received through a pipeline from Ras Laffan to Mesaieed. The plant is expected to produce around 450 Kmtpa of polyethylene, expandable to 600 Kmtpa which will be mainly exported to Asia and Europe. The Production of QATOFIN project is expected to commence by 4th quarter of 2008.

The third project is Ras Laffan Ethane Cracker, which is a joint venture between Q-CHEM (53.31%), QATOFIN (QAPCO & TOTAL PETROCHEMICALS will jointly own 45.69%) and QP (1%) to produce 1.3 million ton per year of ethylene, expandable up to 1.6 Mmtpa and is anticipated to start production by 4th quarter of 2008. A 120 km long pipeline will be extended from Ras Laffan Industrial City to Mesaieed Industrial City in order to transport the ethylene. This project is considered as one of the biggest ethane crackers in the world.

Al-Mohanadi added that feasibility studies have been conducted for establishing LDPE 3 Plant. The new plant capacity will be 250 Kmpta. By the completion of this project in the 2nd Quarter of 2010, QAPCO's total LDPE production capacity will be increased up to 650 Kmpta.

Al-Mohanadi commended the long service staff saying that the successful execution of all these projects could not have been achieved without their sincere efforts, continual support and hard work and also without the continual and unlimited support received from H.E. Abdullah Bin Hamad Al-Attiyah, the second deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Energy and Industry. Thanks also to Total petrochemicals, who are our partners in these successes. Now we are proud to say that QAPCO enjoys a remarkable reputation as a leading low-density polyethylene producer in the world market,' he went on to say.

Al-Mohanadi spoke about the revenues achieved; 'for the third quarter of the year, the net profits reached 1,131 mn Qatari riyals, comparing with 1,020 mn for the same period last year and we expect the profits to rise up to 1,535 mn Qatari riyals by the end of the year. While last year the total profits reached 1,343 mn Qatari riyals.'

He also spoke about the company's marketing network that has been greatly expanded through opening representation liaison offices all over the strategic world markets. 'Now we have offices in China, , India, Taiwan, UAE, Egypt, Syria, Lebanon and recently in Pakistan and Bangladesh. QAPCO is striving to keep up an ideal image and it is diligently dealing with 4000 customers in over 75 countries worldwide, concentrating on their satisfaction and applying a high quality and competency system in marketing and services.' he said..

Mr. Mohd Jassim Al-Na'ama, Public Relations Manager, declared that QAPCO, through awarding its long service staff, aims at enhancing the inter-relations and ties between the management and the staff and also to show more interest in the ideal and sincere staff, commending them for their efforts to give them an impetus for constantly improving their performance.

At the end of the ceremony, a dinner banquet was held in honor of QAPCO's VC and General Manager, Eng. Al-Mohannadi.