Work on renewable energy projects under way: minister

Significant works are currently under way to ensure that 200MW power would be generated from renewable energy sources, mainly solar, by the turn of the decade, it was informed yesterday at a briefing held after the launch of the Ras Abu Fontas A3 water plant.
HE the Minister of Energy and Industry Dr Mohamed bin Saleh al-Sada, Qatar Electricity and Water Company (QEWC) managing director Fahd bin Hamad al-Mohannadi and Qatar General Electricity and Water Corporation (Kahramaa) president Issa Hilal al-Kuwari were present.
While speaking to journalists, the minister said that after the completion of the 200MW solar plant in Duhail, efforts would be made for generating another 500MW of power from renewable energy.
The government, said the minister, is committed to ensure that water and electricity are provided to the country’s residents when any major project is planned and executed, whether it is residential, commercial or industrial.
While lauding the efforts of those involved in the timely completion of Ras Abu Fontas A3 project the minister  said the works of large-scale Umm al-Houl water and project are in full swing and it would be commissioned in the first quarter of 2018.
Replying to a query, Fahd al-Mohannadi said water production using reverse osmosis technology will not only be 15 to 20% cheaper but the process is also very environment-friendly. “The construction and operation of the plant and generation of desalinated water are also less expensive when it is done through RO,” he said.   
At the meeting it was informed that three quality control tests lasting 15 days would be held before desalinated water is supplied to customers through the country’s networks. The tests are held at the laboratories of the Qatar General Electricity and Water Corporation (Kahramaa), Ministry of Public Health and also at an international facility outside the country.
At the meeting, Mitsubishi Corporation’s senior vice-president (regional CEO, Middle East and  Central Asia) Katsuya Nakanishi said the three projects executed by their company in Qatar would ensure water for no less than 500,000 residents.



Kahramaa spends QR1.9bn on projects in 2016
A number of substations were constructed and overhead lines and cables laid by the Qatar General Electricity and Water Corporation (Kahramaa) in 2016 at a cost of QR1.9bn as part of expanding its electricity networks.
In a statement yesterday recalling the developments initiated under president Issa bin Hilal al-Kuwari, Kahramaa said last year witnessed the construction and energised several substations, cables, and Over Head Lines (OHL) at different areas to ensure the safety, service sustainability, and reliability of transmission and distribution networks.
In 2016, Kahramaa launched a number of electricity substations including a substation supplying the power to the new Hamad Port at a total cost of QR188mn.
In addition, the corporation also managed to build two substations 132 /11 kv and associated cables to supply power to the Mall of Qatar and Doha Festival City at a total cost of QR171mn.
Moreover, Kahramaa energised a number of substations to feed power to different vital development projects and authorities including Al-Gharrafa substation 132/66/11 kv at a total cost of QR145mn, Lusail super substation 220/66/11 kv costing QR134mn, and Al-Dhakirah substation costing QR67mn in addition to other substations, cables, and OHL at different areas.