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Qatar aiming to be a global gas leader as TotalEnergies takes stake in North Field East LNG
22/6/2022
News
TotalEnergies has become the first company selected to partner with national company QatarEnergy on the giant North Field East (NFE) LNG project, taking a 25% stake for an undisclosed sum.
Launched by QatarEnergy in summer 2019, NFE LNG will reportedly be the largest LNG project in the world. Featuring four 8mn t/y trains, the project will increase Qatar’s total LNG export capacity from 77mn t/y to around 110mn t/y 2027.
The upstream part of the project will develop the south-eastern area of the field, with eight platforms, 80 wells and gas pipelines to an onshore plant.
Carbon capture and storage
Carbon emissions associated with the natural gas production will be captured and sequestrated in a saline aquifer. TotalEnergies also reports that the facilities will be connected to Qatar’s electricity grid, which is to supply a growing portion of renewable electricity in line with the country’s climate ambitions once the giant Al Kharsaah solar power plant comes onstream later this year. TotalEnergies is a partner in the solar project.
Commenting on the news, Indrajit Sen, Oil & Gas Editor at Middle East Economic Digest (MEED), a GlobalData company, says: ‘Securing a reliable international investor such as TotalEnergies could not have come at a more opportune time for Qatar, as the Gulf state works to cement its position as a reliable partner for gas supply to Europe amid the current energy crisis.’
QatarEnergy has set itself a target of expanding its LNG capacity by over 60%, from 77.5mn t/y to 126mn t/y by 2027. This will be undertaken in two phases through the North Field East and North Field South projects.
‘The state enterprise [QatarEnergy] has also allocated significant capital expenditure towards sustaining gas production from the giant North Field offshore gas reserve, to support incremental LNG production in the long-term,’ adds Sen. ‘QatarEnergy is also making progress with a major $19bn shipbuilding programme to augment its LNG transport capabilities.’
‘Investments from major international energy companies in its ambitious LNG production capacity projects helps Qatar de-risk its investments in the masterplan, as well as bring in international expertise vital for long-term operational efficiency of the sprawling LNG infrastructure,’ concludes Sen.
