Royal Dutch Shell is on track to complete the construction of the Pearl, the world's largest gas to liquids GTL plant by the end of this year and full capacity is expected by early 2012.

The USD 18 billion to USD 19 billion projects has a capacity to produce 140,000 barrels per day of GTL products which include diesel, kerosene, naphtha and lubricant oils.

Mr Krey Stirland commercial manager at Qatar Shell said that we expect the full capacity to be reached by the first part of 2012. Condensates and liquefied petroleum gas is expected to be produced by the Q1 of next year while the remaining GTL products will be produced by the Q2 of 2011.

Pearl will process about three billion barrels of oil equivalent over its lifetime from the huge North Field in the Gulf. The plant is located at Qatar's industrial city of Ras Laffan.

(Sourced from Reuters)