$52bn projects to come up in Qatar

Oil and gas and non-energy projects worth $52 billion will get going in Qatar in the next two years, according to an expert.

Of these budgeted projects, $6 billion worth projects have already been sanctioned by Qatar, the highest by a GCC country, Meed projects' group sales manager Alan England was quoted as saying by Gulf Times.

In terms of budgeted projects, Qatar is behind only Saudi Arabia, which has $53.6 billion worth of projects in the pipeline. The UAE stands third with $47 billion worth of projects, he said.

checked the news and saw this article too

NOW IT'S GETTING SERIOUS!! BUCKLE UP!

wow, 52bn, that's the amount dubai's uc projects cost :)

interesting, ya mostly energy and gas projects since qatar wants to be the number one LNG producer in the world. Toursim projects and infrastructure i think would account for around $10 billion or so. Good job.

By 2010, QatarGas along with partner RasGas, will become the number one exporters of LNG to the world! Alot of money is being invested into building the infrastructure to support the LNG export industry. The talk of the town right now is Qatar's Gas Transport Co. As of today, Qatar owns 11 ships to transport LNG. As of Jan. 2005 this company IPO will go online and Qatar will purchase 52 ships to transport LNG. All of qatar are selling everything they can sale just to be able to buy stocks into this company.

Talk is, 25% of the company's IPO will be offered to non-qatari nationals through mutual funds. Take my word guys! If this is true, do not think twice, buy into this company even if it means you have to get a loan or sale your car. In qatar people are selling thier homes to get the moeny they want to invest into this company.

I think of this 10 $ bahrain spirit mentioned, most of it will go into sports facilities and supporting services. Espically as we are approaching 2006.

ya, should be a good investment option. We'll have to wait and see the price of each share.

The word is the minimum allowed to purchase is 1,000 shares and the max is 2,000 @ 5 riyals a share! Anything above 2,000 shares will be according to "nesbah wa tanaseb." Meaning that you are allowed to buy as much stocks, but if the company goes over what it initialy requires it will take a percentage of the stocks u purchased over your max.

If they same thing will happen with qatar industries, which is currently teh seventh largest company in terms of net assets in the gulf, then this 5 riyal stock will rocket all the way to over 50 riyals. This is when everyone will sell and become rich over night!!

i found this nice article about development in qatar, very nice. Hehe it has the number of floors of the emirates towers wrong but doesn't matter (over 70 stories). Also mentions that on the drawing board, there is a 60 story pyramid tower for the corniche, would be lovely. Here is the url, it might be long but worth the read, enjoy:

http://www.planning.org/hottopics/internationalplanning/qatar.htm

great news
good to hear a real highrise is planned
shape of a pyramide, hope it won't be concrete, please steel and glass

main problem is that most planned projects are hard to find and there only is some rough info on them

i think it still takes a year to realize a construction boom

at the moment they are focusing on the artificial islands, towers are second

All the best to Qatar ^^

Qatar is the least gulf country that I worry about in near future. It will be a combination between Abu Dhabi's wealth and Dubai's strategies.

My worries about Qatar are only from Qatari wealthy nationals who spend multi-millions in the west.

First Eid Mubarak to all.

Halliburton, JGC Corporation and Snamprogetti may join forces to bid for Shell's USD3bn gas-to-liquid plant in Qatar, reported MEED. The magazine said the three companies would compete against a team of Technip and Chiyoda for the contract without naming its sources.

Qatar Amir Shaikh Hamad bin Khalifa Al Thani will inaugurate the Ras Laffan power plant on November 29, the Ras Laffan Power Company announced.

The QR2.6 billion ($714.4 million) power and water desalination plant at Ras Laffan Industrial City has a capacity of 750 mega watts (MW) of electricity generation and 40 million gallons (160 million litres) per day of water.

Heir apparent Shaikh Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani, Prime Minister Shaikh Abdullah bin Khalifa Al Thani and ministers will also attend the function.

There are five desalination units operating in Qatar with a total production capacity of 150,000 cubic metres of water per day. As the demand is growing, more water will have to be produced to keep pace.

Under a 25-year power and water purchase agreement the Ras Laffan Power Company (RLPC), the project promoter, will supply electricity and water to the Qatar General Electricity and Water Corporation (Kahramaa).

Kahramaa will be responsible for supplying power to the national grid.

The plant will also produce distilled water to be supplied to the Ras Laffan Industrial City and potable water for distribution to the national network, according to a report published in the Peninsula newspaper.

The RLPC is made up of Qatar Petroleum (QP) with a 10 per cent stake, Gulf Investment Corporation (10 per cent) and AES Ras Laffan Holdings (80 per cent).

Shell is to invest USD6bn in a major gas-to-liquids plant in Qatar, CEO Jeroen van der Veer told Business Week. A USD5bn deal to build a 140,000 bpd GTL plant was signed last October, and the plant is set to come onstream in two phases, in 2008-9 and 2010-11.

This should put qatar in the forefront easily:

The following major petrochemical and gas utilization projects are in various stages of finalization for implementation.

AKG (formerly EGU) Project
The AKG Development and Production Sharing Agreement (DPSA) was signed with ExxonMobil on May 2, 2000 and ratified on July 12, 2000 by an Emiri Decree.

The project will develop reserves from the North Field to supply 1.75 bscf/d of sales gas to the domestic consumers and gas export market. The project will also produce condensate, ethane, LPG and sulfur. The project will enhance the diversification policy of the North Field gas utilization and maximizes the utilization of the existing gas infrastructure.

The AKG project, excluding the NGL plant, was included as an option within the EPC, which was awarded for RasGas Expansion (Trains 3 and 4). The FEED for the AKG project except the NGL plant was completed in year 2000. The FEED for the NGL plant began in July 2001 by Chiyoda and was completed in February 2002. Award of the EPC for the first phase of the project is expected in March 2003 with first gas deliveries in 4th quarter 2005.

Dolphin Project
The Dolphin Project entails development of reserves from the North Field for the production of wellhead gas sufficient to export lean gas at a rate of 2 bscf/d to the United Arab Emirates. The project includes processing of gas at Ras Laffan to strip out condensate, ethane, LPG and sulfur. The sweet lean gas will be delivered to UAE through a sub-sea pipeline.

The Development and Production Sharing Agreement (DPSA) was signed on December 23, 2001. A Heads of Agreement for the gas Sale and Purchase Agreement (SPA), as well as the Pipeline Agreement were signed together with the DPSA. The FEED study will be completed in March 2003. Award of the EPC is expected in 3rd quarter 2003 with first gas deliveries in 2nd quarter 2006.

Qatar/Kuwait Gas Supply Project
The purpose of this project is to export sweet lean gas to Kuwait on a long-term basis from the AKG project.

A letter of intent was signed between Qatar Petroleum and Kuwait Petroleum Corporation (KPC) on May 3, 2000 to supply gas to Kuwait. A Memorandum of Understanding was signed between QP, ExxonMobil and KPC in July 2000. The feasibility study for the Qatar-Kuwait gas transmission pipeline was carried out by ExxonMobil.

A protocol for gas Sale and Purchase Agreement (SPA) between QP and KPC was signed on January 30, 2002 concurrently with the signature of a term sheet between QP, ExxonMobil and KPC outlining the commercial terms relating to the SPA. The SPA is under discussion between QP, KPC and ExxonMobil. Draft intergovernmental agreement and host government agreement have been prepared.

Gas Export Project to Pakistan
The project will develop North Field gas from an area to be dedicated to the project to produce and export 1.25 bscf/d to Pakistan through a sub-sea pipeline.

A Heads of Agreement (HOA) between QP and Crescent Petroleum Company was signed on February 15, 2000. Negotiations with Crescent regarding the Development and Fiscal Agreement (DFA) are at an advanced stage and it is expected to sign the DFA during the 1st half of 2003.

Qatargas Expansion Project
This project aims at converting 800 mmscf/d of North Field gas to LNG and exporting to Spain and Italy with partners REPSOL and EMEL.

New Ras Laffan LNG Project (Petronet)
The scope of this project is to produce 1.5 bscf/d of gas for LNG export to India. This is the first K1-K4 integrated development project in the North Field. Possible integration with the Enhanced Gas Utilization project is being considered.

Sasol GTL Project
The Sasol GTL Project made excellent progress in all project tracks, namely Technical, Project Execution, Project Financing, Business, during 2002. The FEED study was completed during June 2002 and the final ITB issued to the EPC Bidders during August 2002. The Engineering, Procurement, Construction and Commissioning (EPCC) contract was secured by initialing the contract with the selected company during December 2002.

The financing for the project was also secured in principle from the lenders by selecting the lead arrangers, consisting of 15 banks, during November 2002.

Business plans, including marketing report, capital and operating cost budgets and the nomination of key secondees from QP and Sasol, were also developed in parallel to support the advancement of the Sasol GTL Project. Various agreements, including technology, marketing, gas supply, licensor equipment supply and land lease were developed and negotiated during 2002.

The plan is to establish the JV company and award the EPC contract during the 1st quarter 2003. The anticipated start-up date of the Sasol GTL project is 4th quarter 2005. The plant will yield 34,000 barrels of gas-to-liquid fuels a day.

Ivanhoe GTL Project
Ivanhoe GTL project is to produce synthetic diesel and naphtha products. The plant scope is to produce approximately 185,000 barrels per day (b/d) of GTL product along with substantial amounts of water that, with suitable processing, can be used for irrigation or even potable water purposes. Start-up of the complex is projected for 2008. Natural gas liquids (NGLs) will also be recovered from the gas stream. This project, as with all the other major GTL projects listed below, will require an upstream development to supply gas to the GTL plant.

Commercial negotiations have reached an advanced stage and will be concluded in the near future.

ExxonMobil GTL Project
ExxonMobil GTL project for the production of synthetic GTL products in excess of 100,000 b/d and will recover NGLs from the produced gas stream. Startup is projected for late 2008.

Technical and commercial negotiations are progressing in parallel and, subject to reaching a satisfactory conclusion on commercial terms, the engineering work can progress to a detailed design phase.

Shell
Shell’s GTL project will produce approximately 140,000 b/d of synthetic fuels and lube base oils. Shell plans to implement the project in two phases; the first phase of approximately 70,000 b/d would come on stream at the end of 2007. The timing of the second phase will be determined in the pre-FEED phase. Shell’s current schedule is for first GTL product in 1st quarter 2008.

The engineering design for the project has progressed well and commercial discussions have also commenced.

Marathon
The Marathon GTL project will produce approximately 91,000 b/d of naphtha and diesel with a small amount of synthetic LPG. The project will consist of two trains of equal capacity. Phase I is expected to produce first product by the end of February 2008, and full production of both Phases is expected by April 2009.

Marathon has completed a feasibility study for the project and is currently in a more advanced design phase that is expected to be completed by the end of April 2003.

ConocoPhillips
ConocoPhillips (CP) is planning to develop their GTL project in two phases, each producing approximately 80,000 b/d of GTL products - naphtha, diesel and synthetic LPG.

The company is preparing a feasibility study for QP and will submit it during March 2003. The company has constructed a large demonstration plant that will operate until the end of 2003. It is expected that commercial discussions will not start before the end of 2003.

Sasol Chevron
Sasol Chevron submitted a Project Profile Proposal to QP in July 2002 for an integrated upstream/downstream GTL project to produce 120,000 b/d of GTL product in two phases. The project will produce naphtha and diesel as the primary products. H.E. the Minister of Energy and Industry signed a Statement of Intent for this project in November 2002.

The joint companies will submit a more detailed study to support this project during the 1st quarter of 2003.

Qatargas II
QP and ExxonMobil signed on June 24, 2002 a Heads of Agreement for the supply of LNG from Qatar to the United Kingdom as well as other markets.

The project covers the development of two LNG trains, which are expected to be the largest ever built by industry. QP will have a 70% equity interest in the LNG trains and ExxonMobil 30%.

The LNG trains will be built at the Qatargas plant in Ras Laffan Industrial City. LNG shipments to the UK are scheduled to begin in the 2006/7 timeframe and extend over 25 years.

Qatargas II Project’s target is to produce 2.8 bscf/d of gas and install 2 X 7.5 mmt/a LNG trains for UK market by 2007. Pre-FEED was completed in 2002. FEED and appraisal drilling to start in 2003.

Laffan Refinery Project
It has been decided to locate Laffan Refinery (140,000 b/d of condensate) inside Qatargas in order to maximize synergy with Qatargas. The refinery will be operated by Qatargas and will produce LPG, naphtha, kerojet and gas oil.

The contractor for the Front End Engineering Design Study (FEED) was selected and it is expected to award the contract in January 2003 followed by the Engineering, Procurement and Construction (EPC) contract in the 2nd quarter 2004.

Qatar Petroleum (QP), TotalFinaElf and ExxonMobil, signed on November 25, 2002 the Term Sheet for the design, construction and operation of Laffan Refinery which is scheduled to start up in 2007. Project Management Agreement is being finalized.

Cracker at Ras Laffan
A joint venture agreement has been signed by Q-CHEM, Qatofin and QP to establish an ethane cracker plant and a 120 km pipeline from Ras Laffan to Mesaieed to transport the ethylene produced. QAPCO ATOFINA will jointly own 45.69% shares in the proposed prospect while ATOFINA and QP will own 53.31% and 1% shares respectively. The plant, which will be located in Ras Laffan Industrial City, will be one of the world’s largest ethane cracker plants.

The proposed cracker will have a capacity to produce 1.3 million metric tons of ethylene every year. The derivatives polyethylene plants will be located in Mesaieed within the existing facilities of Q-CHEM and QAPCO. The ethane feedstock for the cracker unit will be supplied by the adjacent Enhanced Gas Utilisation (EGU) project and Dolphin project's onshore Facilities. The new ethylene pipeline, From Ras Laffan to Mesaieed, will supply ethylene to the NAO and HDPF plants of Q-CHEM II and the LLDPE plant of QATOFIN Initially, the ethylene pipeline will transport 1.3 MMT of ethylene every year. However, at a later stage it can be expanded to carry 1.6 MMT of ethylene.


Q-Chem-2 Project
An amended JVA was signed on June 13, 2002 between QP (51%) and Chevron Phillips (49%) to establish an ethylene derivatives plant at Mesaieed, adjacent to the Q-Chem plant, with a design capacity of 350,000 mt/a of HDPE and 350,000 mt/a normal alpha olefins. Feasibility study was completed in December 2002. The estimated start-up of the project is 4th quarter 2007.

Qatofin
QAPCO, ATOFINA and QP have entered into a joint venture agreement to establish a world-class Linear Low Density Polyethylene (LDPE) plant in Mesaieed, adjacent to the existing QAPCO plant. QAPCO will own 63% shares in the proposed plant while ATOFINA and QP will own 36% and 1% shares respectively. The plant is expected to produce around 450,000 metric tons of polyethylene every year which will be mainly exported to Asia and Europe. Start-up date is expected by end of the year 2007.

UDC Aluminum Smelter
QP, ExxonMobil and United Development Company (UDC) entered on October 16, 2002 into a Term Sheet for the supply of gas from the AKG project to the aluminum smelter, which will be developed by UDC in Ras Laffan. A gas Sale and Purchase Agreement is under discussion between the parties.

Gas giant Qatar will spend $15 billion in the next five years to add 70 vessels to its fleet of tankers to export liquefied natural gas (LNG), Oil Minister Abdullah Al Attiyah said.

The state, which is home to the world's third-largest gas reserves after Russia and Iran, aims to export 77 million tonnes of super-cooled and compressed gas by 2012.

'Qatar is well committed and overbooked by 2012 in terms of LNG contracts,' Al Attiyah said in Seoul.

'We will build more new LNG ships, about 70, between now and 2010 and the cost will be about $15 billion.'

Al Attiyah, who visited shipyards in the southern city of Pusan at the beginning of the week, is on a nine-day tour of Japan and South Korea, both heavily dependent on oil and gas imports.

A string of deals this year worth more then $10 billion have moved the tiny Gulf state closer to its target of becoming the top LNG exporter by the end of the decade.

Indonesia is currently the biggest supplier of LNG with exports last year of 25 million tonnes.

Al Attiyah said the outlook was bright for sales of Qatari LNG into Asia.

'China and India will play a big role in the LNG market, and will capture a lot of (LNG) production,' he said, adding that India alone would need more than 20 million tonnes of LNG down the road.

India's Petronet LNG already has an agreement with Qatar's Ras Laffan Liquefied Natural Gas (Rasgas) to import 7.5 million tonnes per year and is looking for more supplies.

'If they (India) ask for more LNG, we'll discuss how to increase the supply,' he said.

Al Attiyah will visit the US in May where he will look into possible investment in LNG import terminals with Exxon Mobil and ConocoPhillips.

'We'll continue to evaluate (the investments) and there will be a decision soon,' he said. 'I think it's positive.'

LNG is gas which has been cooled and compressed into liquid form to make it easy to transport by tanker. -

Yup, i have about 700 stocks in this company :)

Qatar has adopted a 2005-2006 budget topping $10 billion with a surplus of $60 million, the official QNA news agency reported yesterday.

The budget, which comes into effect on April 1, projects revenues of $10.45bn against spending of $10.39bn, it said.

The budget is based on an oil price of $27 a barrel.

Projected revenues for the upcoming financial year are $3.2bn higher than revenues in the 2004-2005 budget, while projected expenditures exceed those in the previous budget by $2.59bn, QNA said.

Woqod (Qatar Fuel) plans to set up an LPG bottling plant in Qatar, second Deputy Premier and Energy and Industry Minister Abdullah bin Hamad al-Attiyah said.

"We hope to award the tender by the middle of this year," he said after the Woqod general assembly meeting at the Diplomatic Club, said a report in the Gulf Times.

Al-Attiyah said the plant would meet Qatar's entire LPG bottling requirements. The plant would have an estimated capacity to fill some 30,000 LPG cylinders daily. In Qatar the LPG sales are projected to grow at an average annual rate of 4.1 per cent over the next 15 years. Currently two types of LPG cylinders - 12kg and 48kg are marketed in Qatar, said the report.

Al-Attiyah said Woqod would also be setting up a $200 million bunkering unit at Ras Laffan to meet the requirements of ships calling on RL Port. The project has already been awarded, he said.

He said Woqod would set up new petrol stations across Qatar as the company held the monopoly for establishment of all new gas filling outlets in the state. The design of all the outlets will be standardised.


However, none of the existing private petrol pumps would be affected, he said. As on December 2000 there were 64 private fuel-dispensing points in Qatar, the report added.

Woqod, in which QP holds a 40 per cent stake, exclusively deals with the marketing and sale of all petroleum products including LPG. Woqod has completely taken over QP's fuel distribution arm - the now defunct Nodco.

أعلن سعادة السيد عبدالله بن حمد العطية النائب الثاني لرئيس مجلس الوزراء وزير الطاقة والصناعة رئيس مجلس ادارة قطر للبترول امس ان دولة قطر بصدد تزويد مملكة البحرين بالغاز الطبيعي تنفيذا للتوجيهات السامية من حضرة صاحب السمو الشيخ حمد بن خليفة آل ثاني أمير البلاد المفدي وأخيه جلالة الملك حمد بن عيسي آل خليفة عاهل مملكة البحرين.

واشار سعادته في تصريح لوكالة الأنباء القطرية الي ان الترتيبات النهائية سوف تتم من خلال اللجنة المشتركة المشكلة من قطر للبترول والجهات ذات الاختصاص في مملكة البحرين لوضع الترتيبات النهائية.

واعرب سعادة النائب الثاني وزير الطاقة والصناعة عن الأمل بأن يتم انجاز هذا المشروع الحيوي في أسرع وقت ممكن نظرا لما له من تأثير ايجابي علي البلدين الشقيقين.

ومن جانبه اعرب سمو الشيخ سلمان بن حمد آل خليفة ولي العهد رئيس مجلس التنمية الاقتصادية بمملكة البحرين عن سعادته باعلان دولة قطر تزويد مملكة البحرين بالغاز الطبيعي مشيدا بهذه التطورات الايجابية التي تعكس عمق ما يربط مملكة البحرين ودولة قطر من علاقات اخوية وطيدة.

واشار سموه الي ان استيراد الغاز القطري سوف يلبي احتياجات مملكة البحرين المستقبلية من الغاز والطاقة وسيسهم ايضا في تحقيق التنمية الاقتصادية من خلال التوسع في العديد من المشاريع الصناعية والتنموية التي بدورها تسهم في ايجاد فرص عمل جديدة لأبناء البلاد الي جانب دعم الكثير من الصناعات الثقيلة والمتوسطة ومشاريع الطاقة الكهربائية وتحلية المياه.

واضاف قائلا انه يسعدني ايضا ان أشيد بهذه المناسبة بالدور المتميز للجنة التعاون المشتركة العليا بين مملكة البحرين والشقيقة دولة قطر في تأطير التعاون بين البلدين الشقيقين.

أعرب سمو الشيخ سلمان بن حمد آل خليفة ولي العهد رئيس مجلس التنمية الاقتصادية بمملكة البحرين عن سعادته باعلان دولة قطر تزويد مملكة البحرين بالغاز الطبيعي مشيدا بهذه التطورات الايجابية التي تعكس عمق ما يربط مملكة البحرين ودولة قطر من علاقات اخوية وطيدة . ورفع سمو الشيخ سلمان بن حمد آل خليفة في تصريح اذاعته وكالة ابناء البحرين امس اسمي آيات الشكر والتقدير إلي جلالة الملك حمد بن عيسي آل خليفه عاهل مملكة البحرين واخيه حضرة صاحب السمو الشيخ حمد بن خليفه آل ثاني امير البلاد المفدي علي توجيهاتهما السديدة في كل ما يتعلق بتعزيز وتأكيد علاقات التعاون الاخوي بين البلدين وتوثيق عري التعاون بينهما لكل ما شأنه تحقيق تطلعات شعبيهما الشقيقين0 واشار سموه الي ان استيراد الغاز القطري سوف يلبي احتياجات مملكة البحرين المستقبلية من الغاز والطاقة وسيسهم ايضا في تحقيق التنمية الاقتصادية من خلال التوسع في العديد من المشاريع الصناعية والتنموية التي بدورها تسهم في ايجاد فرص عمل جديدة لابناء البلاد الي جانب دعم الكثير من الصناعات الثقيلة والمتوسطة ومشاريع الطاقة الكهربائية وتحليةالمياه0 واضاف قائلا انه يسعدني ايضا ان اشيد بهذه المناسبة بالدور المتميز للجنة التعاون المشتركة العليا بين مملكة البحرين والشقيقة دولة قطر في تأطير التعاون بين البلدين الشقيقين منوها في الوقت ذاته بالدعم والتأييد الذي تحظي به هذه العلاقات من اخي سمو الشيخ تميم بن حمد آل ثاني ولي عهد دولة قطر الشقيقة متطلعا سموه الي العمل علي انجاز هذا المشروع لما فيه خير وصالح البلدين وشعبيهما الشقيقين.

وكان سعادة السيد عبدالله بن حمد العطية النائب الثاني لرئيس مجلس الوزراء وزيرالطاقة والصناعة رئيس مجلس ادارة قطر للبترول قداعلن في وقت سابق امس ان دولة قطر بصدد تزويد مملكة البحرين بالغازالطبيعي تنفيذا للتوجيهات السامية من حضرة صاحب السمو الشيخ حمد بن خليفة آل ثاني امير البلاد المفدي واخيه جلالة الملك حمد بن عيسي ال خليفة عاهل مملكة البحرين. واشار سعادته في تصريح لوكالة الانباء القطرية الي ان الترتيبات النهائية سوف تتم من خلال اللجنة المشتركة المشكلة من قطر للبترول والجهات ذات الاختصاص في مملكة البحرين لوضع الترتيبات النهائية0 واعرب سعادة النائب الثاني وزير الطاقة والصناعة عن الامل بان يتم انجاز هذا المشروع الحيوي في أسرع وقت ممكن نظرا لما له من تأثير ايجابي علي البلدين الشقيقين.

من جهة ثانية وصفت وكالة انباء البحرين العلاقات بين دولة قطر ومملكة البحرين بأنها اتسمت منذ القدم بخصوصية جعلتها واحدة من أقوي العلاقات المتجذرة التي تربط بين البلدان الخليجية بعضها البعض .وقالت ان ذلك يرجع الي تداخل روابط النسب وعلاقات المصاهرة بين شعبي البلدين الامرالذي أسس لعلاقات تاريخية متميزة قائمة علي المحبة والتعاون والاخوة والترابط والتلاحم . وقالت الوكالة في تقرير بثته امس ان هذه العلاقة المتميزة وهذه الخصوصية برزتا بشكل أعمق علي مستوي قيادتي البلدين منذ سنوات طويلة وبالتحديد في عهد العاهل البحريني الملك حمد بن عيسي آل خليفة وأخيه صاحب السمو الشيخ حمد بن خليفة آل ثاني أمير دولة قطر .. منوهة في هذا الصدد بما يجمع القائدين من علاقة شخصية قوية ومتميزة أسهمت في ازدهار وتطور العلاقات الثنائية بين البلدين بشكل منقطع النظير خلال فترة وجيزة . واكد التقرير ان اتسام العلاقات بين شعبي وقيادتي البلدين بالعمق والتطور والازدهار اكسبها خصوصية ومنحها أهمية كبري وبعدا جعلها تختلف عن

غيرها من العلاقات. وقال ان العلاقات الثنائية بين البحرين وقطر شهدت في السنوات الاخيرة تطورا ونماء في شتي المجالات.. مشيرا في هذا الصدد الي عمل اللجنة البحرينية القطرية المشتركة علي وضع لبنات صرح العلاقات المستقبلية بين البحرين وقطر وتدعيمها عبر مختلف المشاريع الطموحة التي ينتظرها شعبيهما لتتحول الي واقع معاش خلال المرحلة المقبلة.

وفي معرض تناولها لمشروع الجسر بين البحرين وقطر قالت وكالة انباء البحرين ان المشروع أبعد من كونه مجرد جسر مادي بين البلدين فحسب لكنه رمز لمزيد من التواصل والتلاحم و لكل معاني الاخوة والتعاون وتكريس مفاهيم القربي والجواروتجسيدا للمعاني والقيم الحضارية للانسان البحريني والقطري. وحول الجدوي الاقتصادية لهذا المشروع اوضح التقرير أنه سيكون له دور فعال في تنمية وتطور التبادل التجاري واقرار المزيد من المشروعات المشتركة بين البلدين الامر الذي يؤدي الي تحريك عجلة الاقتصاد الوطني فيهما . كما اعتبر اعلان دولة قطر اليوم انها بصدد تزويد مملكة البحرين بالغازالطبيعي خطوة تستهدف تعزيز التعاون في المجالات الاقتصادية لما لهذه المشاريع الحيوية من تأثير ايجابي علي البلدين. واعربت وكالة انباء البحرين في ختام تقريرها عن تفاؤلها ازاء المستقبل الواعد الذي ينتظر البلدين في ظل اجواء التفاهم والمودة التي تسود العلاقات بينهما مدعومة بارادة سياسية قوية وحرص مشترك.

This is great news, i red it in the car on my way to the office. It needs to have its own thread.

whatever it is
if you think it's good to open a new thread, please do so

Qatar launches 5-year QR 25 billion plan

6 May 2005

DOHA — Qatar has embarked on a five-year plan to implement major infrastructure development projects, with an overall budget allocation amounting to a massive QR 25billion.

Details of the plan were outlined by senior officials of the Public Works Authority (PWA), also known as Ashghal, at a presentation here earlier this week. The Authority was established last year to be responsible for infrastructure development, based on an ambitious strategy evolved by the state.

The plan covers 32 road, 19 building and 6 waste-disposal facility development projects. Road projects account for the largest share (total allocation QR13b) in the five-year plan, which includes: construction of new roads, repair and renovation of existing roads, and the addition of bridges and tunnels.

Local companies have been encouraged, where necessary, to form a joint venture (J-V) with one another, or with a partner with greater experience and financial capabilities, in order to bid for large public contracts. Ashghal has defined certain categories of companies that will be allowed to join the bidding process. Those that have completed, independently, projects of QR50 million, will be able to bid for those of up to QR100 million.

Such projects will also be open to local companies holding 51pc equity in a JV with an international partner. Qatari companies holding 70pc or more in a JV with an international company will be able to bid on projects up to QR200 million.