Qatar has decided to build another mega power and water plant in Ras Rukn in Al Shamal to meet the future need of the utilities in the country and land has been allotted to build a solar power plant with the capacity of up to 700 megawatts of electricity, said an official.
“Facility E Project in the size of Umm Al Houl power plant will be built in Ras Rukn and it is expected to be completed in 2020 to keep pace with the demand for electricity and water”, said General Manager and Managing Director of the Qatar Electricity and Water Company (QEWC), Fahad Hamad Al Mohannadi.
Speaking to the media persons on the sidelines of a ceremony held by the Japanese Chubu Electric Power Company on the occasion of the 10th anniversary of the opening of its office in Doha, Al Mohannadi said that the company is working on completing its local projects at an accelerated pace and in accordance with the specified timetables.
He emphasised that the unjust siege imposed on Qatar did not affect the company’s projects and will never affect them in the future.
“About 93 percent of the Umm Al Houl power plant, which is due to be officially opened after next summer, has been completed”, said Al Mohannadi, adding that it is currently producing 60 percent of its electricity capacity and 60 percent of its water capacity.
Al Mohannadi said that Umm Al Houl power station supports the Qatar’s consumption of water and electricity and adds about 25 percent to the existing capacity.
After completion of the plant, it will be one of the largest power and desalination plants in the Gulf and Middle East region, especially for its Reverse Osmosis System (ROS), and will produce 60 million gallons, he added.
Regarding solar projects, Al Mohannadi pointed out that investing in solar energy is one of Qatar’s goals, and gains global importance, as technology to benefit from this energy is available at reasonable prices. He also announced that a land was allocated by the Council of Ministers for a plant to be built on, adding that this land will be sufficient for the production of 500 to 700 megawatts of electricity.
The tender for this project will be issued by the middle of next year completed, he said, adding that first phase will be completed within 18 months and will be operated by the end of 2019, ahead of the scheduled date by the Emir H H Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani. By the middle of 2020, the plant will be fully operated, he said.
On the company’s projects abroad, Al Mohannadi said that Nebras Power plant is the largest investor in the electricity sector outside Qatar of which QEWC owns 60 percent and Qatar Investment Authority owns 40 percent.
Nebras, he said, owns 35 percent of Dayton Station in Indonesia, and has several plants in Jordan and Oman. The company is looking for other opportunities in Indonesia, Pakistan and Morocco, he pointed out. Al Mohannadi stressed that cooperation with Japanese companies and banks is great and the relations are very fruitful for both sides.
He also noted Japanese JIBC Bank support for the company’s projects by at least 50 percent, pointing out that the bank considers Qatari investment as a safe investment, whether in Qatar or in any country.
With regard to the GCC grid, Al Muhannadi said Qatar is committed to supply some of the siege countries with gas and is also committed to supply them with electricity, in case of emergency. The President of Chubu Electric Power Company, Satoru Katsuno, stressed that the long-term relations between Japan and Qatar are in favour of establishing more partnerships and business between the two countries.
The Peninsula Qatar
November 24
