A major Qatari plant has supported the local private sector following the granting of inspection and maintenance contracts that require technical expertise.

Qatar Shell signed up in separate deals two local companies, Manweir and ABB Oryx Motors & Generators LLC (ABB Oryx M&G) to maintain the electrical motors at the Pearl Gas to Liquids (GTL) plant, the world’s largest GTL plant located in Ras Laffan Industrial City. Pearl GTL has approximately 4,500 electrical motors installed on the plant that need to be regularly inspected and maintained.

The move is an affirmation of the quality of local private firms and is part of Qatar Shell’s drive to involve more local companies in its domestic operation and give them opportunities to become suppliers of choice for Qatar Shell and the Pearl GTL plant.

“Our experience has taught us that supporting local manufacturers and small and medium enterprises (SMEs) is core to achieving a sustainable economy in line with the Qatar National Vision 2030. We have been very impressed with the quality of our local providers and we continue to look at opportunities to broaden that partnership base. Today, we are proud to add two new local companies, Manweir and ABB Oryx, to this list,” said Wael Sawan, managing director and chairman of Qatar Shell Companies, recently.

“A healthy private sector, which begins with SMEs and entrepreneurs, is beneficial to large organisations. We hope that Qatar Shell will become a leading example of delivering and then operating world-scale projects in partnership with local suppliers,” he added.

At full capacity, Pearl GTL, operated by Shell, can convert 1.6 billion cu ft per day of natural gas into 140,000 barrels per day of petroleum liquids and 120,000 barrels of oil equivalent into natural gas liquids and ethane. Pearl GTL is regarded as the world’s largest source of gas-to-liquids products.

A joint venture between ABB and Oryx Engineering Solutions, ABB Oryx M&G is based in Ras Laffan and provides a wide range of electrical motor and generator services to operations in the oil, gas, water and energy sectors in Qatar. The service already extends to some 10,000 ABB-manufactured electrical motors operating around Qatar.

Juha Alopaeus, ABB country manager, Qatar, commented: “Shell’s decision to choose ABB Oryx Motors & Generator Services is a testament to the quality of service and convenience of our location in Ras Laffan.”

Abdulla Ahmed Mannai, managing director of Oryx Engineering Solutions LLC, added, “We are pleased to offer Qatar Shell with easy access, quick turn-around and best-in-class service levels under the new agreement.”

Manweir LLC is a wholly owned subsidiary of Mannai Corporation QSC and is one of the leading local engineering services company serving the onshore and offshore oil and gas, petrochemical, power, marine and industrial sectors for the last 37 years. Key services offered by Manweir are, machine shop services, electrical equipment repair, turbo machinery repair, static equipment repair, welding and fabrication, valves repair, instrument calibration and manufacturing of oil field products and other associated services.