Qatar's state-owned QP has for the first time started producing ultra-low sulphur diesel (ULSD) from its 137,000 b/d refinery in Mesaieed, following the completion of work to upgrade the diesel hydrotreating units at the plant.
"We are pleased to announce this new addition to our products, which supports two of our strategic objectives – continuous efficiency improvements and environmental excellence," QP chief executive Saad Sherida al-Kaabi said.
The upgrade of the diesel hydrotreating units means that the Mesaieed refinery can now produce 10ppm sulphur gasoil which meets Euro 5 emission standards.
Until now, QP was producing ULSD only from its 146,000 b/d Ras Laffan 2 refinery, which was primarily being supplied to the domestic transportation market, and only exported on occasion in 40,000t (289,000 bl) cargo lots when available. But with the ULSD from Mesaieed now primarily set to supply the domestic market, this should make more volumes from Ras Laffan available for export. QP said that Mesaieed began supplying the domestic transportation market from today.
The other main products produced at the Mesaieed refinery are gasoline, liquefied petroleum gas, naphtha, light gas oil, jet A-1, fuel oil and decant oil.

