Manama: The inaugural World Global gas-to-liquid (GTL) congress gets underway today in Doha amid plans that the participants from several countries will initiate a new course of direction for the promising industry.

“The congress promises to be a premium platform to spawn fresh dialogue with a rich conference agenda, side events and an exciting exhibition over the next three days,” organisers said in an email to Gulf News.

Organised by the International Quality & Productivity Centre (IQPC), the congress is taking place at a time when GTL is cementing its position as a revolutionary novel technology with potential to power such wide-ranging industries as aviation, vehicle engine manufacturing, fuel companies, lubricant manufacturing and petrochemical plants.

“The first-ever World GTL Congress has attracted the attention of many top figures of the oil and gas world to discuss the future of the industry. The diverse variety of sessions will give a complete overview of GTL, technologies, innovations, and market, in context with a view towards the future,” Leila Masinaei Al Marzouqi, Divisional Director, Oil and Gas from IQPC Middle East, said.

More than 500 participants from 30 countries, representing a broad sweep of industries from education and research to national oil companies, are expected to use the opportunities on the side lines of the conference and break out workshop sessions to network, exchange ideas and foster a formidable new circle of business partnerships.

“We find it apt that an event of this scale for the global GTL industry is taking place in the ‘GTL capital of the world’, and we look forward to continue contributing to Qatar’s leadership role in GTL,” Al Marzouqi said.

On the first day, the conference is scheduled to focus on the present and future state of the GTL industry, as well as GTL financing and GTL plants operations technology.