McDermott CEO says that McDermott will deliver the expansion project of QatarEnergy on time after conflict.

McDermott International did not stop work on QatarEnergy’s massive North Field East project during the Iran War, said Chief Executive Michael McKelvy on Tuesday.

McDermott will install the offshore infrastructure to transport natural gas from Qatar’s North Field, currently being constructed at Ras Laffan Industrial City.

Even though the war was going on, we never stopped working. McKelvy said that despite some limitations the work did not cease. He spoke at the Energy Projects Conference in Houston.

He stated that the company expected to deliver their portion of project on time once conditions stabilized.

McKelvy said: "This is exactly what we aim to do - deliver projects on schedule and within budget. We expect to do the exact same thing in this case."

The North Field East expansion (NFE), the first phase in QatarEnergy’s larger LNG growth strategy, is expected to increase Qatar’s export capacity by 32 million tonnes annually, thereby reinforcing the country’s position as one the world’s largest LNG suppliers.

McDermott focuses its role on offshore facilities including platforms, subsea pipes and other infrastructure that feeds gas to the new LNG train. Technip Energies is leading a consortium that's building the liquefaction facilities.

Robert Scott, managing Director for the Americas of Technip Energies said that the pace of the expansion could depend on the way QatarEnergy balances the ongoing construction with the need to repair any infrastructure damaged during the conflict.

Scott, also speaking on the sidelines at the 'conference, said that the speed of delivery will depend on how much priority the company gives to new construction in Ras Laffan compared with repairs.

He said that regional tensions and wider logistics constraints could also affect timelines. This is especially true for shipping through the Strait of Hormuz - a major artery of global energy trade. Scott stated that the timeline will depend on how fast the Strait of Hormuz reopens.

QatarEnergy plans to increase LNG production and meet global demand in Asia, Europe and the Americas, despite shifting energy trade flows, by expanding its North Field.

(source: Reuters)