Texas A&M University at Qatar and QAPCO sign MoU for International Natural Gas Symposium

This year's symposium is organized under the patronage of HE Dr. Mohammed bin Saleh Al-Sada, Qatar Minister of Energy and Industry.

The symposium will bring together the world's leaders in synthesis gas production and utilization and share information on the latest trends in research and technology development in these fields.

The influential international event is sponsored by QAPCO, Qatar Petroleum, Oryx GTL, Sasol and Shell, among other generous local industry supporters.

Dr. Mark H. Weichold, Texas A&M at Qatar dean and CEO, said, "Texas A&M at Qatar is proud to partner with QAPCO on this significant event that brings to the Qatar community experts from around the world to discuss dynamic themes that address an area of the State of Qatar's vibrant development and affect its evolution. Opportunities such as the NGCS provide invaluable access to network with hundreds of industry and academic representatives and participate in lively discussions regarding the industry in Qatar. It is home to where some of the world's most vibrant natural gas conversion research and development is currently occurring. This year's programme will include more than one hundred presentations and address some of the most relevant challenges and research and development in the field."

Symposium topics include production and purification, synfuels, conversion, energy and commercial technical-economical studies. Industry experts will discuss information on the latest R&D technology solutions related to the conversion of fossil resources, biomass and waste to syngas, energy, synthetic natural gas, hydrogen, liquid fuels and chemicals - all hot topics of current cutting-edge research.

Dr. Mohamed Yousef Al Mulla, QAPCO's vice chairman and CEO, described the event as, "One of the most important symposiums to be held in Doha this year, as it brings together leading academics and industrialists from around the world. These experts are dedicated to advancing the research and development of technologies related to the conversion of fossil resources to synthesis gas, hydrogen, liquid fuels and valuable chemicals. It is, therefore, a great privilege to support the Natural Gas Conversion Board and Texas A&M at Qatar, and once again demonstrates that Doha is becoming a hub for research & development. It also confirms that QAPCO is committed to R&D in natural gas conversion within Qatar which fits into our strategy of working with the educational sector to develop research programmes that will be of great benefit to the future of the Energy & Industry sector."

Plenary speakers include Professor Krijn de Jong of Utrecht University, Professor Maria Flytzani Stephanopoulos of Tufts University, Mr. Rob Overtoom of Shell and Professor Yong-Wang Li of Synfuels China and the Chinese Academy of Science. In addition to a full schedule of plenary, keynote, oral presentations and poster sessions, the programme will include site visits to two projects in the vanguard of global gas conversion, ORYX GTL and Pearl GTL.

Christopher Kidder, executive director of the NGCB, said, "For more than a quarter century the Natural Gas Conversion Symposium series has been supported by companies working in the vanguard of developments connected with the conversion of natural gas to energy, fuels and chemicals. The Natural Gas Conversion Board is grateful to QAPCO for their generous support of the 10th Natural Gas Conversion Symposium in Doha, and delighted to have the company's active participation in the industry's premier international technical meeting that brings scientists, researchers and engineers together in a unique manner."

The NGCB has been bringing together the world's leaders in synthesis gas production and utilization since 1987. Selected presentations from this symposium will be published in Catalysis Today and Industrial & Engineering Chemistry Research.