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Sasol and QNRF Sponsor Texas A&M Reaction Engineering and Catalysis Symposium

Published Dec 06, 2017

Sasol, the international integrated chemicals and energy company, has participated as a key sponsor in the Bukur Reaction Engineering & Catalysis Symposium 2017 which opened yesterday at HBKU in Education City. The event, organized by the Texas A&M Engineering Experiment Station (TEES) and hosted by Texas A&M University at Qatar and fuded jointly by Sasol and Qatar National Research Fund(QNRF), taking place on 4 & 5 December, brings together world leaders in GTL and catalysis and recognizes the role that Qatar is playing in leading the industry forward. 

The symposium has been designed to celebrate Qatar’s sponsorship of top-notch research work in the field of GTL, Fischer Tropsch reactor design, and catalysis. The event also reflects on the career and achievements of Dr Dragomir Bukur, who in more than 40 years of research in gas processing technology and Fischer-Tropsch catalysis has revolutionized the field. Symposium sponsors and attendees are committed to advance Qatar's human capacity via training highly skilled scientists and engineers to lead the future of gas processing technology.

Sasol, as an industry leader in the commercial application of GTL catalysis around the world, acted as both a sponsor and speaker at the event, highlighting key successes in the ORYX GTL facility, the joint venture between Qatar Petroleum and Sasol. 

Speaking prior to the event, Thabiet Booley, Senior Vice President Energy at Sasol said: “GTL catalysis has transformed the outlook for Qatar and provided the world with a reliable and affordable energy source. This conference not only celebrates the successes that have been achieved, but continues to advance the research and potential for future growth.” 

Dr. Cesar O. Malave, dean of Texas A&M at Qatar, said, “Texas A&M at Qatar is proud to host this symposium with longtime partner, Sasol, and to provide a medium to discuss knowledge that has direct bearing on the pillars of Qatar’s energy and industry sector. Through collaborative efforts with TEES, Texas A&M at Qatar utilizes it world-class Doha-based laboratory facilities and expertise to export knowledge created here to the U.S. and beyond. That this symposium honors the work of Dr. Bukur is fitting, as he has made pioneering, state-of-the-art contributions to the field and contributed to the faculty and students of Texas A&M at Qatar.” 

Symposium Chair and Director of the TEES Gas & Fuels Research Center at Texas A&M at Qatar, Dr. Nimir Elbashir, said, “Qatar is leading the world in natural gas monetization. We are partnering with Sasol and ORYX GTL, as well as Qatar National Research Fund in this event that co-organized with Qatar Environment and Energy Research Institution and Qatar University Gas Processing Center, to highlight Qatar’s leadership role in this field. The symposium is named after Professor Dragomir Bukur, a distinguished scholar who has contributed significantly to advance research work in gas processing technology and to support Qatar in this area.” 

Dr Abdul Sattar Al-Taie, Executive Director of Qatar National Research Fund, a sponsor of the event, said “We recognize the significance of the new technologies showcased at this event, many of which are home-grown and designed to reinforce Qatar’s position within this field and are pleased to be able to support it under our Conference and Workshop Sponsorship Program”.

The symposium is open to researchers, students and industry experts in Qatar, providing them a platform to share their research on Catalysis and Reaction Engineering, specifically about natural gas conversion, to celebrate Qatar as the world's Gas Processing Capital. The outcome of this symposium will be disseminated as scientific journal papers in a reputable catalysis journal and other forms.