Qatar Petroleum is overseeing a dynamic petrochemicals industry with grand expansion plans. CEO, and Energy Minister, Saad Sherida al-Kaabi tells MEES that petrochemicals is central to the firm’s strategy and that “QP is still in chemicals…we have always been in chemicals and we always will be in chemicals.”

Indeed, QP is now pushing ahead with two of the largest petrochemicals plants in the world, both alongside US firm Chevron Phillips (jointly owned by Chevron and ConocoPhillips). In Qatar, the US firm secured a 30% stake in QP’s planned 1.9mn t/y ethane cracker in June (MEES, 28 June). Returning the favor less than a month later, Chevron Phillips handed QP 49% in a 2mn t/y ethane cracker project on the US Gulf Coast (MEES, 19 July). (CONTINUED - 888 WORDS)