The Annual Plant Design Contest, organized by the Department of Chemical Engineering at Qatar University, has marked its 20th anniversary with QatarEnergy LNG sponsoring and presenting the best overall prizes to the winners.
Since its inception in 2004, this prestigious contest has provided Qatar University students with world-class engineering experience, nurturing the next generation of engineering talent.
This year's competition was held at Qatar University's Engineering Building, featured six female teams and four male teams, all of whom showcased exceptional standards. The judging panel comprised of engineering experts from multiple industrial partners in Qatar including Khalid Hisham Al-Mannai, Lead of Process Engineering at QatarEnergy LNG, Dr. Lina Rueda, Manager of Research and Development at Qatar Shell GTL Limited, Mathew Swatton, Technology Team Lead at Qatar Shell GTL Limited, Awad Al-Yafei, Head of Plant Productivity at QAFCO, Ahmed M Homssi, Environmental Manager at QChem, and Pradeep Pugazhendgi, Head of Process & Technology Department at Technip Energy.
First place was awarded to the team of Maryam Al-Naimi, Mariam Wisam, Haya Al-Naimi, and Alreem Al-Musleh for their outstanding design of an ethylbenzene production facility. Their project assessed the feasibility of producing ethylbenzene in Qatar, considering market trends and compliance with national and international standards. The team conducted an environmental impact assessment and explored emissions reduction options. They were supervised by Dr. Ibn Al-Waleed Hussein.
Second place went to the team of Nchwa Ndame, Nadeen Alshaibi, Noura Boudjema, and Ushnah Khan for their innovative design of an ethylbenzene plant using benzene and ethylene as feedstock. Their project emphasised sustainability, economic viability, and minimised environmental impact through cleaner resources and energy conservation. The team was supervised by Dr. Seckin Karagoz.
Third place was awarded to the team of Tarfa Al-Buhindi, Ruqaya Al-Sada, Fatiha Tuz Zahra, Tahmina Akther, and Donghyun Kim for their blue ammonia design plant. With a production capacity of 1.1 MTPA and a purity of 99.99%, their design met market demand and supported the hydrogen revolution by integrating carbon capture and utilisation technologies. The team was supervised by Dr. Donghyun Kim.
This year's competition celebrated the 20th anniversary of this unique collaboration between QatarEnergy LNG and Qatar University. In recognition of this milestone, Sheikh Khalid Bin Abdulla Al Thani, QatarEnergy LNG Chief Engineering and Projects Officer, presented a special recognition award to Qatar University Vice President for Academic Affairs Dr. Ibrahim Al Kaabi, honouring the long-standing partnership between the two entities.
The QatarEnergy LNG Chief Engineering & Projects Officer and Dr. Khalid Kamal Naji, Dean of the College of Engineering at Qatar University, presented prizes to the winning teams, judges, advisors, and faculty.
The event also recognised Dr. Mohd Al-Marri, Dr. Fadwa Taher Al Jak, and Dr. Zeinab Abbas Jawad, representatives from the Department of Chemical Engineering at Qatar University and QatarEnergy LNG representatives, Ahmed Al-Mohannadi and Khalid Al-Kuwari.
In his opening remarks to the guests at the event, Sheikh Khalid Bin Abdulla Al-Thani, QatarEnergy LNG Chief Engineering & Projects Officer, said: “This event holds special significance for all of us, as it represents two decades of innovation and excellence. It also underscores our firm commitment to fostering the next generation of engineering leaders. We firmly believe that competitions like this serve as excellent platforms for students to expand their horizons, refine their skills, and ultimately, emerge as the visionary engineers of tomorrow."
He added: “Our partnership with Qatar University in organising this prestigious competition is a testament to our shared commitment to advancing engineering excellence in Qatar. Together, we have witnessed remarkable growth and development over the past two decades, and today, we celebrate the fruits of our collective efforts."
Dr. Khalid Kamal Naji, Dean of the College of Engineering, expressed heartfelt appreciation and gratitude to QatarEnergy LNG and its management on behalf of Qatar University and guests. He commented: “I would like to express our deepest gratitude to QatarEnergy LNG for their unwavering support over the 20 years. Their commitment to nurturing future engineers through this competition is truly commendable. Your partnership allows our students to gain invaluable experience working on industry-relevant projects, interacting with experienced professionals, and developing the technical expertise crucial for success in the energy sector."
