DUBAI (Reuters) -- OPEC producer Qatar said on Saturday it was building a new terminal to export 4.8 million tons of liquefied natural gas (LNG) to Italy by 2008, the country’s state news agency QNA reported.

“Currently we are building a terminal to receive Qatari LNG that will be exported to Italy before the end of next year 2008,” QNA said citing Nasser Khalil Al Geeda, chief executive of Qatar Petroleum International. “We are expecting to export 4.8 million tons annually which is expected to increase to about 6 million tons per year.”

Qatar Petroleum International owns 45 percent of this project, Exxon Mobil XOM.N also owns 45 percent, while Italian firm Edison EDN.MI owns 10 percent.