Secretary General of the Supreme Council for Delivery and Legacy Hassan al-Thawadi receiving award from Dr Mohamed bin Saleh al-Sada as Issa bin Hilal al-Kuwari looks on at the anniversary celebrations of the Tarsheed campaign yesterday. PICTURES: Jayaram
By Ramesh Mathew/Staff Reporter
Qatar has made an effective saving of about QR600mn since the launch of the Tarsheed campaign by Qatar General Electricity and Water Corporation (Kahramaa) to reduce consumption of electricity and water.
This was announced by the Minister for Energy and Industry HE Dr Mohamed bin Saleh al-Sada at a meeting held to commemorate the third anniversary celebrations of the Tarsheed campaign yesterday.
The campaign is held under the patronage of HH the Emir Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad al-Thani, under the slogan
“Tarsheed: Time is now”.
“Since the campaign began on April 22, 2012, there has been an identical overall reduction of 11% in the total consumption of water and electricity in the country,” the minister said.
The campaign has also helped reduce carbon dioxide emissions by nearly 1.8mn tonnes, and gas waste by 43,000mn cubic ft, until the end of December last year.
The target set by Kahramaa is to make a gross reduction of 35% in the consumption of water and 20% in electricity until 2017.
The per capita consumption of water and electricity in Qatar is generally considered to be one of the highest in the world, according to figures released in recent years by Kahramaa.
At the meeting, Kahramaa president Issa bin Bilal al-Kuwari complimented the efforts being made by the residents, institutions and establishments in helping to reduce the consumption of electricity and water in the last three years. He also called upon the people to continue avoiding wastage of power and water.
Later, the minister gave away awards to the winners of the competitions held in recent weeks to coincide with Tarsheed.
Mementos were given to government and private institutions, which promoted the campaign to reduce power and water consumption in recent years.
The celebrations are supported and guided by the Prime Minister and Interior Minister HE Sheikh Abdullah bin Nasser bin Khalifa al-Thani.
Award winners: Government sector: The New Emiri Diwan Annex, Industrial: District Cooling, Qatar, Sports: Ali Bin Hamad Al Attiya arena (Qatar Olympic Committee), Commercial: Arkan Building,(Lebriqa Real Estate Company of Qatari Diar), Residential: Ali-al-Sarfan, Tourism sector: Qatar
National Convention Center.
Awards for best renewable energy initiative: Institutions: Al Wakrah beach for families, for using solar energy to operate LED lights.
Individuals: Ahmed Hamad al-Badi al-Madeed, Owner of Enviro Company, a venture promoting geo wash (washing cars without water).
Universities contest for best TV commercials: Mairna Ammar (Hamad Bin Khalifa University, QF), Nesma Sherif (Qatar University).
Awards for best Tarsheed campaign advertisement: Khedr Ibrahim Sulaiman (QU), Omar Ahmed Lofti (QU), Sara Abdulla al-Mutawa (HBKU-QF).
Short story contest (schools): Preliminary: Hala Meheid Ibrahim (Al Shaqb Independent School); Preparatory: Nasser Mansour Abo Keskh (Al Imam Al Shafi Independent School); Secondary: Naiemuddin Muenuddin (Tarki bin Ziyad Secondary School).
The organisers also honoured representatives of Ezdan Holding, Qatar Tourism Authority (QTA), Supreme Committee for Delivery and Legacy, Gardens Department, Ministry of Municipality and Urban Planning, Unilever Company, ConocoPhilips, Doha Film Institute, Qatar Debate and Iberdrola Company for their support to the Tarsheed campaign through signing of memorandums of understanding, social support, scientific and research participation.
