The joint development of the Qatargas 3 and Qatargas 4 LNG (Liquefied Natural Gas) integrated projects is a major construction undertaking, employing some 20,000 workers to build Trains 6 and 7 for Qatargas. These projects, each with a massive 7.8 million tonnes per annum (mtpa) LNG train, will bring total production for Qatargas to 42 mtpa.

Shell is currently exploring for gas in Libya’s Sirte Basin in six blocks, covering an area of more than 22,000 square kilometres. Shell is also working with Libya’s National Oil Corporation (NOC) to rejuvenate the Brega LNG (Liquefied Natural Gas) plant and is examining a site for the development of a new generation LNG plant.

Shell is committed to Libya in terms of its business relationship for economic development. At the same time Shell Libya is aware of its responsibility to give back to the people of Libya with a commitment to Sustainable Development and a growing Social Investment Programme.

Jan van der Eijk took up the position of Chief Technology Officer for Royal Dutch Shell in May 2006. His role is to ensure the ongoing development and implementation of Shell technology and, in so doing, to support the realisation of Shell's business aspirations. He also leads the team of Shell's Chief Scientists, promoting scientific skills within Shell and helping to capture and progress emerging energy technologies for the future. ‘Shell in the Middle East’ caught up with Jan in Dubai in April during a visit to the Middle East

Shell was awarded two new exploration blocks totalling an area of some 14,000 square kilometres in the southern dessert of Syria at the end of 2006. In December 2007 2D seismic acquisition operations commenced using Geofizyka Torun (GT), a Polish company, to acquire the data. The exploration campaign is headed up by Syria Shell's Jean-Michel Larroque and supported by a team of exploration professionals based in Damascus and an evaluation team in Rijswijk in The Netherlands. ‘Shell in the Middle East' talks to Ole Myklestad, Shell Country Chairman for Syria, about Shell's aspiration in Syria, then joins Jean-Michel on a field visit on the South Syria Platform

At a time when economic growth and high oil prices are driving a massive growth in industrial development throughout the Middle East and North Africa, ‘Shell in the Middle East' talks to Jules Croonen, Shell's Vice President for Human Resources for Shell Exploration & Production's Business in the Middle East, to find out what Shell is doing to recruit, train and retain regional staff. We also talk to three graduate recruits who have joined Shell to find out how they were recruited and what sort of training they have received to date

Shell has been marketing fuel products in Oman for more than 50 years and its success and growth continues to increase today with the recent signing of several substantial contracts and a celebration with a valued distributor for breaking new sales records for lubricants. ‘Shell in the Middle East' talks to Faisal Al Hashar, Managing Director of Shell Oman Marketing, about the boom in business