The Qatar-UAE gas pipeline expansion is on course for completion by the end of this year despite lack of extra fuel; Mubadala Petroleum, a majority shareholder in the project was quoted as saying.
The $250 million upgrade to the Dolphin Pipeline’s gas compression facilities which started last year and would enable Qatar export the full 3.2 billion standard cubic feet (scf) capacity of the pipeline, which currently supplies about 2 billion scf to the UAE.
The expansion signifies hope for continuous cooperation between the UAE and Qatar even as diplomatic problems hamper cross-border business.
“By the end of this year Dolphin is going to have the ability to push a lot more gas,” said Maurizio La Noce, the chief executive of Mubadala Petroleum. “When and if and how that gas is going to come, I don’t know. For us it’s important to have the availability of the capacity, and then it’s going to be between the Qatari authorities to determine.”
In March, Danube put on hold a Dh30 million retail unit in Qatar, alluding to uncertain of investment climate in the country, while Qatar Petroleum backed away from partners Mubadala Petroleum and Oman Oil in bidding for Occidental Petroleum’s Middle East assets.
