By Pratap John
Chief Business Reporter

Al-Suwaidi and Last with Oryx GTL and Gasal executives at the long-term oxygen supply agreement signing ceremony

Oryx GTL, currently the world’s largest gas-to-liquids (GTL) plant at Ras Laffan, has signed a long term oxygen supply agreement with Gasal, a QP joint venture.
Oryx GTL requires additional quantities of oxygen as it ramps up its gas-to-liquids production capacity.
Gasal will invest $70mn on a large oxygen and nitrogen production unit at Ras Laffan with a capacity of 750 tonnes of oxygen per day. The new unit will be designed and built by Air Liquide Engineering and will be commissioned at the end of 2010.
In addition to oxygen that will be produced for Oryx GTL, the plant will also be the base for gaseous nitrogen supply to Gasal’s nitrogen pipeline network currently under construction in Ras Laffan.
The new unit will expand Gasal activities in Ras Laffan. Earlier this year, the QP, Air Liquide and Qatar Industrial Manufacturing Company JV had a successful start-up of its nitrogen unit for Ras Laffan Olefins Company.
The unit will also serve as a reliable source of liquid gases for other customers in Qatar and in the neighbouring Gulf countries.
Oryx GTL chief executive officer Abdul Rahman al-Suwaidi said, “The signing of the oxygen supply agreement supports the continuous growth of Oryx GTL. Gasal, through its shareholders’ international experience and expertise, is ideal to meet our growing oxygen demand. This agreement not only reflects the start of a commercial relationship with Gasal, but also demonstrates Oryx GTL’s support to the broader Ras Laffan initiative. As a Qatari company, Oryx GTL is pleased to be able to support other Qatari ventures and believes this will be a mutually beneficial relationship.”
Gasal chief executive officer Christian Last said, “We would like to thank Oryx GTL for its trust and support as we achieve milestones in our development phase in Ras Laffan. With this new long-term supply agreement, Gasal establishes a strong foothold in Qatar’s largest industrial basin and further completes its strategy of a safe and reliable supply of gases in large quantities to the industry. In addition, it means a lot to Gasal that a leading company such as Oryx GTL has taken the decision to outsource its industrial gas requirements to us.”
Oryx GTL is a 51%:49% joint venture between QP and Sasol of South Africa. It is designed to produce ultra clean GTL fuels including nearly sulphur-free diesel, naphtha and LPG for the global market.