The Qatar General Electricity and Water Corporation (Kahramaa) Monday embarked on a partnership with Ooredoo for the establishment of cutting-edge water network infrastructure, along with the implementation of associated services – a first-of-its-kind initiative in Qatar.
This ambitious endeavour, according to a statement from Kahramaa, boasts an investment of QR 75,548,400 over a span of ten years, positioning it as a formidable force poised to reshape and revolutionise the Qatari water sector.
With the signing of this contract, a comprehensive communications network will be deployed to facilitate smart meter functionality for water services under the supervision of Kahramaa. This robust network will furnish Kahramaa with vital data encompassing diverse aspects such as billing, water network enhancement, loss collection, and other critical information at the management and control levels.
The signing ceremony of the agreement between the two parties, at Kahramaa headquarters, was attended by president engineer Essa bin Hilal al-Kuwari and Ooredoo Qatar CEO Sheikh Ali bin Jabor al-Thani.
This pivotal development follows a succession of strategic initiatives spearheaded by Kahramaa, each designed to elevate the water sector's infrastructure. With an unwavering commitment to enhancing distribution processes spanning from the source to customers, Kahramaa diligently addresses all sectors including the residential, industrial, commercial, and other crucial sectors within the country.
Al-Kuwari expressed profound confidence in the transformative outcomes that will inevitably emanate from this partnership. Aligned with Kahramaa's strategic plan, which revolves around the water network modernisation and the enhancement of related facilities and services, the ultimate objective is to establish smart cities that fully embody the aspirations of the Qatari society.
"Our paramount aim at Kahramaa is to foster a contemporary and seamlessly interconnected water sector. To that end, we embarked on a transformative journey years ago, leveraging the cutting-edge technologies in network monitoring and management. This forward-thinking approach empowers us to responsibly and sustainably manage Qatar's precious water resources, ensuring heightened efficiency, reliability, and overall comprehensive distribution across all regions of the country. Moreover, it equips us to adeptly address any unforeseen incidents with utmost promptness and efficacy," he noted.
Ooredoo Qatar CEO, said: “Today marks a significant step in our ongoing journey of leveraging technology for the betterment of Qatar. Our alliance with Kahramaa underscores Ooredoo’s commitment to not only providing world-class telecommunications services but also in playing a pivotal role in the nation’s infrastructure advancements.
Engineer Amal Rashid al-Mansoori, manager of the Information Technology Department at Kahramaa, attended the signing ceremony. She oversees Kahramaa's smart meter project. Reflecting on the collaboration with Ooreedo for the water system's smart meters, she said the partnership is pivotal, strengthening Kahramaa’s capacity and enhancing oversight of the water network.
"Following Kahramaa’s significant achievements with the smart electrical grid, transitioning from traditional meters to digital ones that offer precise, real-time readings across the network, we are eager to extend these advancements to our water distribution system. Kahramaa remains committed to delivering top-tier services in Qatar's electricity and water sectors. Our standards, aligned with the best international practices, reaffirm this dedication," she said.
Kahramaa embarked on the construction of the smart meter system and the establishment of the requisite network infrastructure in Qatar almost three years ago. Leveraging the latest cutting-edge technologies and devices, smart control systems, billing mechanisms, real-time monitoring, and remote reading systems are seamlessly interconnected.
Kahramaa president engineer Essa bin Hilal al-Kuwari and Ooredoo Qatar CEO Sheikh Ali Bin Jabor al-Thani at the signing ceremony Monday.