Editorial comment

A. Blume, Managing EditorAdrienne.Blume@GulfPub.com The startup of Chevron’s $10-B, 33-Mbpd Escravos GTL plant in Nigeria in the second half of 2014 marked the operation of the world’s fifth large-scale GTL project. Additional large-scale projects are planned around the world. However, most will not get off the ground very quickly, as project costs for large-scale GTL are notoriously prohibitive, especially when transportation fuel prices are low. Traditional GTL plants also take a long time to build. Early in the year, in the US, Sasol was forced to delay a final investment decision for its planned $14-B, 96-Mbpd GTL facility in Louisiana due to slumping oil prices. In late 2013, Shell ca