I still recall my first year (2001) joining Qatar University as an assistant professor at the Chemical Engineering Department, where I started to teach and get involved in the educational environment.

Every now and then, I used to ask myself, “How can I add value to the unprecedented growth in the gas-based economy?”

I remember when I used to keep track of the investment figures which used to be announced in press conferences. The first figure I heard from the Minister of Energy was around $55 billion. That’s how much the country is going to spend on developing its gas reserves for the next 5 to 7 years. Things were not stagnant and that number used to increase every one to two years.

Qatar Petroleum was very busy with its joint venture activities, after their LNG sucess story.

I used to share my dream with very few people around me, especially at the Chemical Engineering Department. I had the chance to listen to top decision makers in the government and hear the vision of the country leaders. Things began to look promising when the University was able to actually participate in such vision, by doing something of value for the immense gas-based industry.

These were the motivating external factors which showed that we could do something to build our local gas-based knowledge. Internally, we were fortunate enough to be lead by a very strong and supportive decision maker, Dr Sheikha Al-Misnad, who became the president of the University in 2003.

In 2004, a new era started at Qatar University when His Highness the Amir Sheikh Hamad Bin Khalifa Al-Thani granted QU its autonomy from the government and created a very prestigious board of regents chaired by His Highness Sheikh Tamim Al-Thani, the Heir Apparent.

As part of the changes that took place at QU, I started to be an advocate for the initiation of the Gas Processing Center, where we can enhance our educational and academic capabilities and at the same time strengthen our industrial relationship.

The University supported the concept of initiating the GasProcessingCenter and we hired a consultant who worked with me in trying to identify the focus and the niche of the center. It took us more than a year to prepare a detailed business plan after we have interviewed local and international gas companies including those who are becoming new tenants at the Qatar Science and TechnologyPark. We wanted to differentiate our new center from theirs and make sure that there was no duplication in our project.

In January 22, 2007, I had the honor and the pleasure to present such plan to His Highness the Heir Apparent who was so happy to approve it. I still recall that big smile on his face when I finished my presentation. It was a moment of humor and encouragement!

Thereafter, on March 15, we invited all gas companies operating in Qatar to share with us the official launch of the center and here we are announcing our web site launch today during our second technical advisory committee meeting with our industrial consortium members.

If there is anything that we can do together with your company please don’t hesitate to send us an email and our team will get in touch with you.

Hassan Alfadala

Gas Processing Center Founder