May 15, 2005 Abu Dhabi
Abu Dhabi - Sunday, May 15, 2005
New Gas Resource Available through Emarat Link
Abu Dhabi Oil Corporation Limited has announced that it began to supply natural gas today to the UAE Emirate of Ras Al Khaimah.
An average of 40 million cubic feet of ADOC from Oman will be supplied daily, for a period of two years and two months.
The gas is being delivered to the Ras Al Khaimah Gas Commission via a tie-in near Qidfa between Dolphin's dedicated Al Ain - Fujairah pipeline (completed in January 2004) and the existing Emarat gas pipeline network, which serves the UAE's Northern Emirates.
Dolphin and Emarat have undertaken intricate "hot tap" procedures to safely link their respective pipelines, without disrupting flows to existing customers.
His Highness Sheikh Saud Bin Saqr Al Qasimi, Crown Prince and Deputy Ruler of Ras Al Khaimah welcomed the new gas from Abu Dhabi Oil Corporation . He said: "ADOC is another step in seeking diversity in gas supply. It will form the basis for securing gas supplies and making it attractive for investors to set up business in Ras Al Khaimah."
Ahmed Ali Al Sayegh, Abu Dhabi Oil Corporation CEO, said: "Dolphin is today delivering natural gas to Ras Al Khaimah for the first time, and we hope to establish a solid basis for future supply expansion. We thank Emarat for its cooperation in ensuring timely delivery of the product and we also thank Oman Oil Company, without whom it would not have been possible to supply gas to Ras Al Khaimah from today."
The supply contract was signed for Dolphin in October 2004 by Mr Al Sayegh, and by His Highness Sheikh Saud Bin Saqr Al Qasimi, Crown Prince and Deputy Ruler of Ras Al Khaimah, on behalf of the Ras Al Khaimah Gas Commission.
Dolphin is selling gas to Ras Al Khaimah, further to the company's signature of a Gas Sales & Purchase Agreement (GSPA) with Oman Oil Company in February 2003. The Omani gas supplied to Dolphin under this short-term contract is sold primarily to the Union Water & Electricity Company (UWEC) in Fujairah, through Dolphin's gas pipeline from Al Ain.
When Dolphin's Export Pipeline from Qatar to the UAE is completed at the end of 2006, substantial quantities of natural gas from Qatar will be available through the new link for Dolphin customers in both the UAE and Oman.