ISO 9001:2008 CERTIFIED NEWSPAPER Wednesday 21 November 2012 7 Muharram 1434 - Volume 17 Number 5525 Price: QR2 Qtel signs Messi nets two $500m Islamic as Barca reach financing deal last sixteen Business | 17 Sport | 28 www.thepeninsulaqatar.com [email protected] | [email protected] Editorial: 4455 7741 | Advertising: 4455 7837 / 4455 7780 Emir opens new Qapco plant QR319,000 collected QR2.3bn facility can produce 300,000 metric tonnes of LDPE in fines from smokers BY SATISH KANADY DOHA: Long criticised for During the latest anti-tobacco non-existent enforcement of campaign of the SCH, how- DOHA: Reinforcing Qatar’s anti-smoking law, Qatar’s pub- ever, what is surprising is that position as a major petrochemi- lic health authorities have no ‘sheesha’ outlet has been cals producer and exporter, swung into action and handed raided by its inspectors and no the Emir H H Sheikh Hamad out fines to some 829 people so fines have been handed out to bin Khalifa Al Thani launched far this year for lighting up in users to ‘sheesha’ addicts, who, Qatar Petrochemical Company’s public places. understandably, also include an (QAPCO) new state-of-the-art, And the fines the health increasing number of women and third low-density polyethyl- inspectors collected from the children. ene plant (LDPE 3), at a high- violators totalled an impressive The current anti-tobacco law profile ceremony in Mesaieed QR319,000 — which means that is described by anti-smoking Industrial City yesterday. on average a smoker caught paid activists as weak and lacking The opening ceremony was QR385 in fine. teeth as the punitive measures attended by ministers and other The places raided by the provided for are not deterring dignitaries, including the Minister inspectors included popular enough. of Energy and Industry H E Dr hangouts like the City Centre, Official figures suggest Mohammed bin Saleh Al Sada, The Mall, Villaggio, Hyatt Plaza, that some 16 percent of the Chairman of the Administrative Landmark and Royal Plaza, Qatari population is addicted Control and Transparency among others. to smoking, and that includes Authority H E Abdullah bin Interestingly, the health ‘sheesha’ as well. Hamad Al Attiyah and senior inspectors didn’t spare govern- School students aren’t immune. executives from QAPCO’s share- ment offices, including ministry A survey has recently been con- holders, Industries Qatar and buildings, and raided them as well ducted by public health authori- Total. and caught violators. ties to determine the extent to The QR2.3bn new facility puts Responsible for ensuring a which smoking is prevalent in the nation at the centre of the smoke-free Qatar, the Supreme schools. global petrochemicals industry. Council of Health (SCH) said in Its findings are expected to At peak capacity, the facility will The Emir H H Sheikh Hamad bin Khalifa Al Thani inaugurated yesterday the third low density polyethylene plant a release yesterday that inspec- help the SCH come up with be able to produce 300,000 metric (LDPE 3) of Qatar Petrochemical Company (QAPCO) at the Mesaieed Industrial City. The opening ceremony tors from its anti-tobacco unit ways that are effective enough tonnes of low density polyethyl- was attended by the Minister of Energy and Industry H E Dr Mohammed bin Saleh Al Sada, Chairman of the conducted 1,330 raids between in fighting this menace among ene per year. Combined with Administrative Control and Transparency Authority H E Abdullah bin Hamad Al Attiyah, and Speaker of the Advisory January and mid-November this youngsters. QAPCO’s existing LDPE facili- Council H E Mohammad bin Mubarak Al Khulaifi. year at public places where smok- The authorities have recently ties, this pushes up the country’s ing is banned. made it mandatory for cigarette output to 700,000 metric tonnes metric tonnes of LDPE per year; 12.7m man-hours with no loss everything from packaging films, The SCH has reiterated in its packets being sold in the local of LDPE per annum. thus increasing QAPCO’s annual time recorded. agricultural film, extrusion and release it would intensify moni- market to carry graphic images Currently, QAPCO’s manufac- production of LDPE to 700,000 Designed to exploit QAPCO’s coating lamination film, high clar- toring and conduct more raids, of deadly ailments smoking can turing facilities consist of an 800 metric tonnes per annum. available surplus feedstock com- ity film, injection molding, pipes, especially as many violators were cause, but its impact on the prev- KTPA (kilo-tonne per annum) LDPE 3 also meets the strin- ing from its other facilities, cables, wires, and other related caught in shops located closer to alence of smoking in the country ethylene plant, a 70 KTPA sul- gent environmental standards as LDPE 3’s products will be sold in products. schools. is yet to be assessed. fur processing facility, and two set forth by Qatar’s Ministry of international markets under the “With the launching of LDPE The SCH campaign assumes Some youngsters, instead of existing LDPE plants with total Environment. No run-off flows brand name ‘Lotrene’ – a name 3 and plans to develop other pet- significance as it comes ahead of kicking the habit, have begun production capacity of 400 KTPA. into the clear waters off the customer’s associate with quality rochemical plants, Qatar is set to a law that is reported to be on buying small steel — and some- And after LDPE 3 came fully coast of Mesaieed, and addition- and excellence. join the exclusive club of major the anvil, and, which many expect, times silver — boxes so they could online, that is designed to take ally, heat produced at the plant QAPCO’s industrial clients petrochemical producers and could see the mushrooming ‘shee- shift the cigarettes from what advantage of the company’s excess is recycled for heating and power. will benefit from the facilities’ exporters”, the energy minister sha’ joints, especially in residen- is a repulsive looking pack to a ethylene feedstock, it will be able Safety regulations were especially premium low density polyeth- said. THE PENINSULA tial localities and near schools, fancy case. to produce an additional 300,000 adhered to, with a milestone ylene, the raw material used in See also page 17 close down. THE PENINSULA Rains lash parts of Qatar Gaza ceasefire hinges Anti-software piracy hotline on Israeli approval DOHA: The anti-software piracy department has set up a hotline to receive complaints JERUSALEM: Gaza mili- Izzat Al Rishq tweeted. of suspected violations of the tants said yesterday they were Egypt — its new Islamic law that bans piracy of compu- awaiting Israeli approval of government now seen as the ter and other software. People a Cairo-brokered truce to Palestinians’ main protector can contact 44842274 to pass their seven-day conflict as US — also initially said the Israeli on information about pirated Secretary of State Hillary “aggression” would end within computer software as well as Clinton arrived in the region to hours. pirated films and DVDs and make an urgent push for peace. But Egyptian President CDs for action. The number The emerging signs of a deal Mohammed Mursi’s spokes- belongs to Qatar’s Intellectual to end seven days of violence man later toned down that opti- Property Rights (IPR) Centre. that have claimed the lives of 136 mism by explaining that Cairo The hotline has been set up as Palestinians came as the Israeli “hopes there will be a settlement part of the Center’s concerted army confirmed its first two fatal- soon.” efforts to crackdown on soft- ities from rocket attacks while Israeli television also cited ware piracy, including sales of another missile landed harmlessly local diplomatic sources as say- pirated film and song DVDs and just south of Jerusalem. ing that a truce announcement CDs, among other things. Optimistic negotiators had would probably have to wait at THE PENINSULA initially said that a deal could be least until today. announced in Cairo later yester- The bloodshed meanwhile day following days of negotiations showed no signs of abating as 61 injured in brokered by an Egyptian govern- the military pressed on with its ment that is keen to make sure bombardment of northern Gaza Cairo clashes the unrest does not spill over to positions from which most of its volatile Sinai territory. the militants’ rockets have been A porta cabin stands on waterlogged ground off Wakra Road yesterday. Many parts of Qatar experienced CAIRO: At least 61 people have “There will be a joint press launched. showers accompanied by thunder and strong winds yesterday morning. The weather today is expected to been injured in skirmishes in conference between Hamas and The Israelis for their part lost be ‘fine to partly cloudy’, the Meteorology Department said. (SYED OMAR) central Cairo that extended Islamic Jihad and the Egyptian two soldiers to rocket attacks that See also page 2 into yesterday after police and mediators tonight to announce continued unabated for the sev- protesters clashed during the the truce,” an Islamic Jihad enth day. anniversary of lethal street source said in Gaza City. A Hamas The army said nearly 800 rock- violence between activists and source separately confirmed the ets have hit Israeli territory since security forces. announcement. the worst outbreak of Gaza vio- Friends of Syria to meet in Morocco on Dec 12 Activists called the protest But Hamas later said in a lence in four years broke out last on Monday to put pressure on statement that Israel had still not Wednesday. RABAT: The Friends of Syria Syrian people’ will take place on due to take place in October, fol- President Mohammed Mursi responded to the Palestinian pro- The incessant Israeli bombing group which supports the oppo- December 12 in Marrakesh,” the lows previous meetings of the to punish those responsible for posal as of 22:00pm (2000 GMT).