Pearl GTL signs service contracts valued at approximately 1.2 billion Qatari riyals

Pearl GTL, a joint venture of QatarEnergy and Shell, has signed long-term service agreements with five major contractors to provide maintenance services to the Pearl GTL plant. The contracts were celebrated during a signing ceremony in Doha on Tuesday, 10th June.

Under the terms of the contracts, mechanical maintenance services will be provided by Madina and AMEC-Blackcat; electrical and instrument maintenance services will be provided by Kentech; and scaffolding, painting and insulation services will be provided by Hertel and Cape East. Madina and Hertel have been existing contractors to Pearl GTL providing services since 2010.

As part of the contracts, Pearl GTL expects more than 1,000 full-time personnel from the contractor companies to be dedicated to supporting the plant onsite.

Speaking on behalf of Pearl GTL, Wael Sawan, Managing Director and Chairman of Qatar Shell, stated, “Through a careful tendering process that began last year, we believe we have partnered with quality firms that will provide important capabilities to help us keep the Pearl GTL plant running safely, successfully and efficiently. These companies stood out for their safety performance, the quality of their personnel and their record of reliable delivery.”

The Pearl GTL plant, located in Ras Laffan, takes natural gas from the North Field and converts it to cleaner burning fuels. Shell is operator of the Pearl GTL plant under a development and production-sharing agreement with QatarEnergy.

The major attraction of GTL products is that they are derived from pure methane and are free of impurities such as aromatics, sulphur or metals. As a result, they burn cleanly and with fewer emissions than products derived from conventional crude oil, such as diesel and jet engine fuels.

Today, with its gas-to-liquids technology proven, Pearl GTL is now in steady-state production supplying its five key products globally with over 300 cargoes shipped to date.