Qatar to Keep Supplying Gas to UAE: Al Jazeera
Qatar will not cut pipeline gas supplies to the United Arab Emirates (UAE) despite the diplomatic dispute between the two nations, Qatar Petroleum CEO Saad Sherida al-Kaabi told Al Jazeera newsagency in the exporter's capital, Doha.
He told the broadcaster June 18 that although there was a force majeure clause in the Dolphin gas pipeline agreement – which pumps around 2bn ft³/day to the UAE – Qatar would not stop supplies to its "brothers".
"The siege we have today is a force majeure and we could close the gas pipeline to the UAE," he said. "But if we cut the gas, it does great harm to the UAE and the people of the UAE, who are considered like brothers ... we decided not to cut the gas now."
According to analysts and industry sources, a shutdown of the 364km Dolphin pipeline, which links Qatar's giant North Field with the UAE and Oman, would cause major disruptions to the UAE's energy needs. Earlier on June 18, UAE-based Sharjah National Oil Corp said it did not expect flows of natural gas from Qatar to the UAE to be interrupted by the diplomatic dispute in the region.
Gas is critical for cooling in the Gulf states
Gas-fired power in the UAE is used for air conditioning and space cooling, a critical resource in the desert emirates. French utility Engie said June 19 it has signed an agreement with UAE state holding Mubadala to acquire a 40% interest in UAE's National Central Cooling Company (Tabreed), which owns 71 district cooling plants across the Gulf, including units at Abu Dhabi’s Al Maryah Island, Yas Island, Sheikh Zayed Grand Mosque, the Dubai Metro, Dubai Parks and Resorts, and the Jebal Omar Development Project in the Saudi city of Mecca. Through the deal, Engie said it would become a worldwide leader in independent district cooling.
Engie will pay some $775mn for the 40% interest, indicated a Mubadala statement (1,086.2mn Tabreed shares at 2.62 UAE dirhams each).
William Powell