Ali Hassan Al-Sidiky, director of downstream ventures, said problems with equipment deliveries for the $3 billion Oryx project had been solved, allowing for an earlier start date. "Construction is very active, we expect (the plant) to come into operation in the first quarter of 2006," he told Reuters.

GTL technology converts gas into petroleum products including low-sulphur diesel that meets higher EU and US environmental rules.

Oryx,