Al-Mohannadi cutting the ribbon to open the Pearl Village as Cook, Brown and others look on. PICTURE: Shemeer Rasheed
Gulf Times: QP and Shell open Pearl Village for 35,000 workers
Published: Monday, 26 May, 2008, 02:01 AM Doha Time
By Noimot Olayiwola
THE 170-hectares Pearl Village, which will accommodate contractors and more than 35,000 workers currently engaged at the multi-billion dollar Pearl GTL Project, was formally opened at Ras Laffan yesterday.?
The complex, jointly owned by Qatar Petroleum (QP) and Shell, was inaugurated by Qatar Electricity and Water Companys general manager Fahad Hamad al-Mohannadi. Royal Dutch Shells executive director Linda Cook, diplomats and senior QP and Shell executives were among those present.
The project, which took around 18 months to complete, comprises facilities for sanitation, health, safety, catering, recreation, information technology as well as financial and commerce services.
At the heart of the village is Al-Muntazah recreation area, which includes sports facilities, a safety-training centre, an outdoor cinema and a park.?Al-Mohannadi said the project demonstrated the governments commitment towards priortising workers safety, well-being and training because they were contributing immensely to the countrys development. ?
When the Pearl GTL project comes onstream around the end of the decade, Qatar and Shell will have untapped a very significant source of upstream and downstream value, by converting natural gas resources into 120,000 barrels per day of natural gas liquids and 140,000 barrels per day of valuable, clean liquid hydrocarbon products for export to markets around the world.
Al-Mohannadi said the project clearly provided Qatar with an alternative way to utilise its enormous gas resources in an economically sound and environmentally constructive way and it was also another step to realise the vision of HH the Emir for optimal utilisation of the countrys natural resources of oil and gas.?
Linda Cook said Pearl GTL represented a global community comprising residents from over 40 countries.?
There are currently close to 25,000 workers on-site and the number will peak at more than 35,000 by around the end of this year, she said.?
The welfare of our construction workers is a top priority for Shell and the Pearl GTL project, she added.?Shell country chairman Andrew Brown described the project as a big step into a long journey.?The village has a mayor as well as a dedicated team responsible for the workers welfare.
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