Qatar Fuel 'WOQOD' moves further into bunker fuel supply as Qatar's maritime infrastructure grows

WOQOD, April 13, 2008, completed a Quality Management Bunker Fuel Supply Chain project with view to accredit the quality management system for the bunker supply chain after implementing and running the system in all their bunker supply processes for two-three months.

WOQOD is publicly listed company and has the sole concession of marketing, distribution and storage of all petroleum products and related services in the State of Qatar.

With the rapid growth in Qatar's maritime activities associated with development of shipping activities supporting LNG exports, WOQOD identified bunker supply for gas ships as an important support function and business opportunity.

The convenience of picking up bunkers for vessels whilst loading LNG as Ras Laffan terminal offers a unique opportunity for operators of such vessels to reduce voyage times to the port of discharge as they will be able to pick up bunkers in Qatar without making a detour to other ports in the region to re-fuel.

WOQOD will be distributing bunkers throughout Qatar, but particularly at Ras Laffan where WOQOD has built a dedicated bunker supply storage facility in Ras Laffan Industrial Park capable of delivering 4 million metric tonnes of bunker fuel annually.

With some 100 over ships forecast to call a month, with stems of up to approximately 5000 metric tonnes for the large ships, WOQOD is looking at significant volumes.

Mr. Mohammed T.Al Sobai, VIce- Chairman and Managing Director of WOQOD, confirmed the importance of ensuring that his company had quality systems in place for bunker supply activities. Working with Lloyd's Register FOBAS has been vital in helping assure this critical supply chain remains free flowing.

"The delivery of bunkers at specified quality levels is safely and business critical every time. WOQOD aspires to achieve a high quality delivery of all its business activities to all customers and external and internal stake holders. Ships need high quality bunkers and we want to make certain we are doing as much as we can achieve that goal."

WOQOD chose Lloyd's Register's fuel oil bunker analysis and advisory service(FOBAS) to help ensure that it's bunkering practices are properly managed and documented.

The Lloyd's Register FOBAS consultancy process took eight months and was led by Douglas Raitt.

WOQOD is now well on the road to helping fuel the ships that will export the clean LNG that the world needs. Mr. Nayef Saeed Al-Hijari, WOQOD Quality Management representative explained.

"The key to managing bunker supply is having a well documented process: a process that is clear, accountable and professional providing buyers with the confidence that they need. The current global, bunker fuel oil demand for ships amounts to approximately 340- 350 million metric tonnes-that's a lot of bunkers. And trade growth forecasts indicate that bunker -fuel demand could rise by one-third between now and 2020, placing ever increasing importance on quality supplies and safe, efficient operations."

Al-Hijiri added that "With the WOQOD Quality Management System for Bunker Supply of Chain (WQMBS) now in place, WOQOD can assure customers that we are able to meet their need for timely delivery of the required level of Quality in the right place."