Doha hosts 4th LPGtrade Summit on November 9-11

The conference is hosted and supported by Qatar International Petroleum Marketing Company Ltd. (Tasweeq). CEO Ali Al-Hammadi shares his perspectives on Qatar's expanding LPG capacity and Tasweeq's role and vision in an exclusive interview.

The 4th LPGtrade Summit convenes in Doha on November 9-11 this year under the patronage of HE Abdullah Bin Hamad Al-Attiya, Deputy Premier & Minster of Energy & Industry of Qatar. His Excellency will make the welcoming speech on November 10. The conference, hosted and supported by Qatar International Petroleum Marketing Company Ltd. (Tasweeq), is emerging as the world's most influential LPG industry meet and is taking place at the ravishing Grand Hyatt Doha Hotel.

The 4th LPGtrade Summit presents 3 full days' agenda with senior executives' roundtable discussions on market dynamics and networking opportunities, promising an exciting event in global LPG this year. The Summit discussions will tackle the challenging global economic climate and its impacts on LPG in production and imports; the outlook on LPG export capacity arising from Middle East and Africa; the perspective on demand from traditional and emerging import markets; the trade flow, freight rates and market situation of LPG shipping; and the contemporary challenges of LPG marketing, trading and logistics.

Tasweeq's CEO, Ali Al-Hammadi, shared his perspectives on the conference and Qatar's role in the global LPG marketplace in an exclusive interview. According to Mr. Al-Hammadi, Qatar will have a greater stake in global LPG trade flows in line with Qatar's expanding LPG production capacity.

Sharing on LPG production in Qatar, Mr. Al-Hammadi said, "The production of LPG from the state of Qatar has been for many years, around 2 million tonnes. But this has been ramping up. We are currently producing around 6 million tonnes, and we are a major player in the LPG market."

He added, "With the massive increase in our LNG and other hydrocarbon industry, we are expected to reach 12 million tonnes (of LPG production) in a couple of years. This will double our LPG production."

However, Mr. Al-Hammadi was quick to point out that increased production is not necessarily a positive development in today's economic condition.

He said, "We see the challenge of marketing this quantity at a time when the world economy is slowing down." He highlighted this as one of the key challenges that Tasweeq will face in the years ahead while discussing their marketing strategy "to sell in Asia, which is the primary market for us, but also if necessary, to deviate and sell to Western Europe and USA."

OPEC's Secretary General, HE Abdullah El-Badri, and representatives from major producers and importing countries will discuss the outlook on the energy and market dynamics, and key issues facing the global LPG business in the coming years at the 4th LPGtrade summit. The world's leading oil companies including ExxonMobil, Shell and ConocoPhillips are also scheduled to present their outlook for the LPG business as it relates to other major energy uses such as LNG and petrochemicals.

Prior to the main conference, the 4th LPGtrade Summit Tasweeq is hosting a special golf tournament 'The LPG Challenge' on November 8 which is sponsored by RasGas and QatarGas, and a visit to Ras Laffan Industrial City (RLIC) on November 9. With the largest natural gas processing and exporting facilities in the world, gas production at Ras Laffan will reach 23 billion cubic feet a day by 2012, representing the single largest concentrations of capital investment in the world.

Another key highlight of the 4th LPGtrade Summit is the LPGtrade Gala Dinner on November 10, sponsored by Tasweeq and Qatar Petroleum. This gala event will be held at the world-renowned Museum of Islamic Art, which showcases the complexity, diversity and vitality of art in the Islamic World.

Speaking on Tasweeq's support for the 4th LPGtrade conference, Mr. Al-Hammadi concluded, "Tasweeq is a major player in the LPG market, and we want to be seen as contributing to the industry, and also contributing towards Qatar's reputation as a reputable supplier of LPG. That's why we're supporting the conference."

A recording of the interview with Tasweeq CEO Mr. Ali Al-Hammadi can be found at www.lpgworldforum.com alongside other information on the 4th LPGtrade Summit agenda, golf tournament, RLIC visit and gala dinner.