* Capacity of 1,500 cubic metre a day of potable water
* Achieve energy efficiency and protect the environment in Ras Laffan Industrial City
* Energy consumption expected to be cut by more than 80% compared to the conventional thermal desalination process
* Reduced construction, operation and maintenance costs

The Qatar General Electricity and Water Corporation (Kahramaa) has signed a memorandum of understanding (MoU) with the New Energy and Industrial Technology Development Organisation of Japan (NEDO) to facilitate a pilot project on an advanced seawater desalination system that is to be implemented in Ras Laffan Industrial City.

The project, which aims to achieve energy efficiency and protect the environment in the industrial city, will have a capacity of 1,500 cubic metre a day of potable water, Kahramaa has said in a press statement.

The MoU, pertaining to the "pilot project for an advanced seawater desalination system applying heated discharge water", was signed in Tokyo, Japan, yesterday by Kahramaa president Essa bin Hilal al-Kuwari and Nedo president Akihiko Miyamoto in the presence of HE the Minister of Energy and Industry Dr Mohamed bin Saleh al-Sada and top officials from both the Qatari and Japanese sides.

The agreement is part of the efforts undertaken as part of the co-operation between Qatar and Japan, Kahramaa said.

Under this project, advanced seawater desalination technologies, discharged seawater used as cooling water for power plants, chemical plants and other heavy industrial plants will be utilised from the intake of raw seawater desalination plants with advanced technologies developed by Japanese companies. Also, environment-friendly bio-enhanced pre-treatment will be applied.

The project includes the planning, design, equipment manufacture, training and use of the technology across the country. During the project, NEDO will entrust its work to Mitsubishi Heavy Technology Industries Ltd and Mitsubishi Corporation. Kahramaa, on the other hand, will carry its work in co-operation with the Mitsubishi Corporation Water Technology Centre established by Mitsubishi Corporation in Qatar.

In addition to reduced construction, operation and maintenance costs, energy saving is expected through the use of advanced processes, Kahramaa has said. Energy consumption is expected to be cut by more than 80% compared to the conventional thermal desalination process, and the environmental impact will be lower.

The MoU, which promotes partnership between Kahramaa and the Japanese organisation, allows for mutual expertise exchange and human resources development.

The Kahramaa statement noted that the memorandum comes within its endeavour to make use of new technologies of seawater desalination.

"Kahramaa has the right to utilise the technology and take part in the ownership of the intellectual property of the new technology. Kahramaa works to develop water production capacity and meet the growing demand for water even while committing to environment protection as per its mission of providing high-quality and sustainable electricity and water for better living in Qatar," it added.

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