The main contractors of Qatargas’ massive North Field Expansion (NFE) project Technip Energies and Chiyoda are progressing construction activities and are expected to complete the project by 2027, according to data from DMS Projects.
The $30 billion development project involves four liquefaction mega-trains at 8 (million tons per annum) mtpa each, resulting in 32 mtpa of new LNG production. North Field East will be the largest LNG project by liquefaction capacity undertaken to date by the industry. QatarEnergy has ensured that a global array of engineering and construction contractors will build it.
For 12 years from 2005 to 2017, the North Field had been under a development moratorium. With the lifting of the moratorium, Qatar announced an aggressive new development plan to expand LNG export capacity from the current 77 mtpa to 110 mtpa by 2026. The final investment decision (FID) on the project was taken solely by Qatar Energy in February 2021. The intent has been to bring in foreign partners as co-funders, while maintaining project control.
Last year, after more than six months of bid evaluation, the Qataris selected ExxonMobil, Eni, Total Energies, and ConocoPhillips as project partners.
In April 2023, QatarEnergy signed a definitive partnership agreement with China Petrochemical Corp (Sinopec).
Under the agreement, QatarEnergy will transfer to Sinopec a 5% interest in the equivalent of one NFE train with a capacity of 8 mtpa.