DOHA: Industries Qatar’s (IQ) fertiliser joint venture company Qafco has awarded a six-year, long-term service contract to Downstream Technology Solutions (DTS) business of GE Oil and Gas to help optimise the performance of the company’s fertiliser plant in Mesaieed.
IQ, one of the region’s industrial giants with interests in the production of a wide range of petrochemical, fertiliser and steel products, yesterday announced the deal that covers the standard maintenance and repair of existing GE on-site power and compression equipment as well as training for Qafco workers and site operators. Qafco’s Mesaieed facility produces ammonia and urea contributing to the total annual production capacity of 3.8 million MT of ammonia and 5.6 million MT of urea.
The actual agreement is between Qafco and GE’s joint venture with Qatar Petroleum, Al-Shaheen GE Services Company (QSC), which supports GE’s regionalisation strategy of deploying capability and resources closer to its customers around the world. “A key priority for us is to optimise the long-term availability and efficiency of our Mesaieed plant’s existing fertiliser production facilities,” said Khalifa A Al Sowaidi, Chief Executive. “Not only is GE Oil & Gas the original equipment manufacturer for the gas and steam turbines, centrifugal compressors and associated equipment, but it also has the proven local customer services capabilities we need to help us meet our production targets.”
Rami Qasem, president & CEO of GE Oil & Gas for the Middle East, North Africa and Turkey, said: “This agreement with Qafco further builds on our strong partnership with the organisation and our long-term presence in Qatar. Our existing equipment will bring the cutting edge in GE’s innovative technology, assuring higher efficiency, reliability and will support the optimal performance of the company’s fertiliser plant in Mesaieed, Qatar.”
“Our long-term service agreement with Qafco illustrates the many advantages that we can offer our customers in the fertiliser and other downstream industries through our collaborations with local project partners,” said Hasan Dandashly, vice-president of DTS, GE Oil & Gas. “The agreement also underscores how GE’s regionalisation strategy enhances the value of our products and services in Qatar and throughout the Middle East.”
The new service agreement includes the following equipment at Mesaieed: six Frame 6 gas turbines, 33 centrifugal compressors (various models), 17 steam turbines, and 16 centrifugal pumps.
In a separate statement GE said: “The agreement with Qafco comes nearly a year after GE first launched its DTS business to more effectively serve the $10bn refining, petrochemical, industrial and distributed gas segments. DTS provides integrated solutions, adding the value of a single equipment source with a key focus on applications for ethylene, low-density polyethylene, ammonia and urea as well as refinery processing.The Peninsula
