|
20 October 2003 - Dolphin Energy Limited (DEL) announced today the signature of binding agreements to supply natural gas to two of the UAE's leading power and water companies.
During successive ceremonies in Abu Dhabi, the contracts were signed for the supply of future Dolphin gas to the Abu Dhabi Water & Electricity Authority (ADWEA) and the Union Water & Electricity Company (UWEC). The signings took place at the Palace of Sheikh Hamdan bin Zayed Al Nahyan, the UAE's Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of State for Foreign Affairs, who is also Chairman of Dolphin Energy Limited.
The contract between Dolphin Energy and ADWEA was signed by Sheikh Hamdan and the Chairman of ADWEA, Sheikh Dhiyab Bin Zayed Al Nahyan. Subsequently, the contract between Dolphin Energy and UWEC was signed by Sheikh Hamdan and UWEC Chairman Sheikh Hamed Bin Zayed Al Nahyan. Abu Dhabi Emiri Decree No 8 of 2002, issued on May 26 last year, approved the incorporation of Dolphin Energy and defined its role in detail. On May 28, 2002, the Abu Dhabi Supreme Petroleum Council issued its Decision Number 1 of 2002, which clarified Dolphin's responsibilities and described its marketing and distribution tasks.
The Dolphin Gas Project is a unique strategic regional energy initiative, which comes on stream in 2006. It involves the development of substantial natural gas reserves from Qatar's offshore North Field, their processing onshore at Qatar's Ras Laffan - and transportation by export pipeline of up to 3.2 billion cubic feet a day (bcf/d) of refined natural gas to the UAE. The contract signed with ADWEA provides for the supply of required quantities of Dolphin gas from Qatar for 25 years to ADWEA subsidiaries Al Taweelah Power Company, Al Arabiya Power Company, Emirates CMC Power Company and Gulf Total Tractabel Power Company.
For ADWEA, Sheikh Dhiyab stated: "The signing of this contract is in line with ADWEA's program to develop the power sector and to provide best services to citizens, as inspired by the President His Highness Sheikh Zayed bin Sultan Al Nahyan and His Highness Sheikh Khalifa bin Zayed Al Nahyan, Abu Dhabi Crown Prince and Deputy Supreme Commander of the Armed Forces." He described the 25-year agreement for the supply of natural gas as a strategic step towards acquiring a dependable long-term source of energy, based on the pioneering contribution of Dolphin Energy.
The contract with UWEC provides for supply of Dolphin natural gas from Qatar for 25 years. Under its terms, the natural gas will be supplied by Dolphin to UWEC for its new power and desalination plant in Fujairah, on the UAE's East Coast. The gas will flow through Dolphin's dedicated export pipeline to landfall at Al Taweelah in Abu Dhabi. It will then be pumped via existing landlines to Al Ain -- and thereafter through the new 182 kilometre, 24-inch Dolphin pipeline to Fujairah, to be completed this December. The contract will succeed the short-term agreement for initial provision of natural gas by Dolphin from Oman, signed with UWEC in February this year. This stipulated that Dolphin would supply UWEC with Oman Oil Company gas for between 3.5 and 5 years - from1st Quarter 2004 - prior to the completion of the Qatar link.
For UWEC, Sheikh Hamed commented: "The future success of UWEC depends on secure gas supplies. This contract with Dolphin Energy will therefore enable us to serve our market competitively and efficiently. It will be a vital element in our program to supply energy to homes, business and industries across the UAE for decades to come." Sheikh Hamdan and Sheikh Hamed paid collective tribute to the Omani leadership for its role in assisting the project's initial development.
| 
Articles 
| View all PennWell sites | View all PennWell events
Add RSS Feed
