Ras Laffan Petrochemicals Complex : QatarEnergy, CPChem to construct new $6bn polymers facility in Qatar

QatarEnergy and Chevron Phillips Chemical Company (CPChem) have made the final investment decision to construct the Ras Laffan Petrochemicals Complex, an integrated olefins and polyethylene facility in Ras Laffan Industrial City, Qatar.

To this effect, both parties have formed a joint venture, Ras Laffan Petrochemicals, in which QatarEnergy will hold a 70% interest and CPChem will have 30%.

Saad Sherida Al-Kaabi — Qatar Minister of State for Energy Affairs and QatarEnergy president and CEO said: “There is no doubt that this cornerstone investment in Ras Laffan Industrial City marks an important milestone in QatarEnergy’s downstream expansion strategy. It will not only facilitate further expansion in the downstream and petrochemical sectors in Qatar, but will also reinforce our integrated position as a major global player in the upstream, LNG, and downstream sectors.”

The $6 billion Ras Laffan Petrochemicals Complex will contain an ethane cracker with a capacity of 2,080 kilotons per annum (KTA) of ethylene.

In addition, the 435-acre petrochemicals project will also consist of two high-density polyethylene trains with a combined capacity of 1,680KTA.

QatarEnergy, CPChem take FID on $6bn Ras Laffan Petrochemicals Complex. Photo courtesy of QatarEnergy.

Expected to go onstream in 2026, the polyethylene units will use CPChem’s MarTech loop slurry process to manufacture high-density polyethylene.

The Ras Laffan Petrochemicals project will use ethane for feedstock and feature advanced energy-saving technology to minimize greenhouse gas emissions.

Bruce Chinn — CPChem President and CEO said: “At Chevron Phillips Chemical, we continue to grow our global asset base where there is access to reliable, affordable feedstock.

“This investment will help meet global demand for polyethylene products.

“We are excited to expand on the long and successful history we have with QatarEnergy to safely construct and operate world-scale facilities.”

CPChem will offer project management services for the new complex construction with early works at the location commenced in June 2022.

US-based Emerson was contracted for the main automation while Maire Tecnimont of Italy will perform engineering, procurement and construction for the polyethylene units of the Ras Laffan Petrochemicals Complex.

SCJV, a joint venture between Samsung Engineering and CTCI, will carry out engineering, procurement and construction for ethane cracker.

In November 2022, QatarEnergy and Chevron Phillips made the final investment decision for the $8.5bn Golden Triangle polymers project in Orange, Texas.