Nakilat, Sonatrach agree to work together on gas transport, fleet support

Nakilat’s LNG vessels being loaded at the Port of Ras Laffan. Nakilat provides the critical transportation link in Qatar’s LNG supply chain. Its LNG shipping fleet is the largest in the world, comprising some 54 LNG vessels.

Nakilat and Algeria’s state-run energy company Sonatrach will work together on a number of areas of common interest related to the marine transportation of hydrocarbons under a memorandum of understanding (MoU) signed on Sunday.

Potential areas of collaboration include the co-ownership of gas carriers, for which discussions are in progress regarding two liquefied natural gas (LNG) vessels, each with a capacity of 177,000m3. Collaboration for vessel dry-docking, and construction of vessels in both countries are also possible areas of cooperation.

Nakilat and Sonatrach, which is Africa’s largest oil and gas company, have agreed upon transportation collaboration for liquid petroleum gas (LPG).

The two companies have also discussed the sharing of technical information and experience as well as collaboration with regards to the logistical support of their fleets.

The MoU was signed by Nakilat chairman Hamad Rashid al-Mohannadi, who is also Ragas CEO, and Sonatrach chairman and CEO Adelaide Beguine.

The event was attended among others by HE the Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs, Sheikh Hamad bin Jassim bin Jabor al-Thani, Algerian Prime Minister Abdelmalek Sellal, HE the Minister of Energy and Industry Dr Mohamed bin Saleh al-Sada and Algerian Minister of Energy and Mines Youcef Yousfi.

Al-Mohannadi said, “We are grateful to HE Sheikh Hamad bin Jassim bin Jabor al-Thani and HE Dr Mohamed bin Saleh al-Sada for their excellent support, which has made the signing of this agreement possible. Nakilat is very pleased to announce this MoU with Sonatrach and we look forward to a long and fruitful collaboration with Algeria’s state energy company.”

Nakilat managing director, Mohamed Ghannam said, “With Nakilat as the world’s largest LNG carrier and Sonatrach as Africa’s largest oil and gas company, we are certain that many rewarding synergies will result from the agreement reached between our two companies. We are also proud to be able to offer the services of Qatar’s world-class shipyard, which is proving to be a strong competitor on the world market.”

Nakilat provides the critical transportation link in Qatar’s LNG supply chain. Its LNG shipping fleet is the largest in the world, comprising some 54 LNG vessels.

Nakilat also manages and operates four LPG carriers. Via two strategic joint ventures, Nakilat-Keppel Offshore & Marine (N-KOM) and Nakilat Damen Shipyards Qatar (NDSQ), Nakilat operates the state-of-the-art ship repair and construction facilities at Qatar’s Erhama Bin Jaber Al Jalahma Shipyard in Ras Laffan.

Sonatrach is the largest oil and gas company in Africa. The company operates in the exploration, production, pipeline transportation and marketing of hydrocarbons and their associated by-products.

Shipping company Hyproc is a subsidiary of Sonatrach. The first commercial LNG shipment in the world was made from Arzew, Algeria to the UK in 1962. Sonatrach is the world’s fourth natural gas exporter and third LPG exporter.