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The ongoing Tarsheed campaign for the conservation and efficient use of energy and water has helped the country reduce consumption substantially in the past one year, HE the Minister of Energy and Industry said while inaugurating the second anniversary celebration of the campaign at Katara – the Cultural Village yesterday.
HE Dr Mohamed bin Saleh al-Sada pointed out that there had been a 10% reduction in the consumption of electricity and 6% in water in 2013-14 compared to the previous year.
Attributing the encouraging results to people’s co-operation and their response to the numerous awareness campaigns carried out by the Qatar General Electricity & Water Corporation (Kahramaa) at different levels, HE the minister also lauded the efforts of the corporation’s officials – who, he said, had actively participated to produce good results.
Enforcement of the conservation law, upgrade of electricity and water installations and the newly introduced specifications for airconditioners have also helped the campaign in a big way, he added.
He said competitions held as part of the Tarsheed campaign saw remarkably good participation from residents. Besides government agencies and institutions, there was equally good response from the industrial, commercial, sports and leisure, and residential sectors throughout the year.
HE Dr al-Sada said a short film competition highlighting the importance of conservation of energy and water and held under the aegis of Doha Film Institute had more than 50 nationals participating in it.
He stressed that while adopting the latest technologies in different sectors, the country is also committed to keeping its environment as clean as possible and this is reflected in the goals and objectives of Qatar National Vision 2030.
While promising to put in similar or even higher levels of effort for the success of the campaign in coming years, Kahramaa president Issa bin Hilal al-Kuwari said their close association with the Ministry of Awqaf and Supreme Education Council (SEC) helped it achieve good results in the last two years since the launch of the campaign.
More than 75 awareness workshops have been held at schools alone and the Imams of mosques have also actively participated to spread the message, observed al-Kuwari.
Ezdan Holding chairman Sheikh Khalid bin Thani bin Abdulla al-Thani
receiving an award from HE Ahmed bin Abdullah al-Mahmoud.
He also recalled the corporation’s participation in events held as part of World Water Day, GCC Conservation Week, Earth Hour, GCC Traffic Week, Children’s Book Fair and other activities at malls, saying each of them contributed to Kahramaa producing better results in the campaign.
Al-Kuwari said the campaign held in tandem with the Ministry of Environment helped set new specifications for airconditioners to be used in the country. Airconditioners, he added, represented close to 60% of power consumption.
“Similarly, the decision to do away with incandescent lights and bulbs will help reduce consumption by a minimum of 20% latest by 2016,” he said.
The Tarsheed campaign, launched on April 22, 2012, is being carried out under the patronage of HH the Emir Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad al-Thani.
Representatives of institutions, government agencies, SEC-run schools and households, which won prizes in the competitions held as part of the campaign, were honoured at the function.
HE the Deputy Prime Minister Ahmed bin Abdullah al-Mahmoud gave away the awards.
The programme also featured award-winning short films highlighting the theme of Tarsheed.
