The mega strategic reservoirs project will ensure Qatar's water security, providing long-term safe water in emergency situations, linking the country's main areas and production sites in the south and north, Director of Technical Affairs at Qatar General Electricity and Water Corporation (Kahramaa), Engineer Ahmed Nasser Mubarak al-Nasr, has stressed.
In press statements on the sidelines of the visit paid by HE the Speaker of the Advisory Council Ahmed bin Abdullah bin Zaid al-Mahmoud to the project in Al Thumama on Tuesday, al-Nasr noted that the project is worth QR14.5bn and it is being implemented in five areas in the country, including Umm Salal, Al Thumama, Rawdat Rashid and Umm Baraka.
It is expected to be completed by the end of 2018.
Al-Nasr reviewed the efforts made by Kahramaa to implement the project within the framework of the State's plans to raise strategic water reserves, highlighting the success achieved by operating the project six months ahead of schedule.
He explained that the total capacity of the project is currently 960mn gallons of water, and will reach 2,300mn gallons by the end of the first phase, adding that the capacity will increase with the completion of each stage. He added that a total of 650km of pipes will be used in the project.
He underlined that the unjust siege of Qatar imposed by the Saudi-led quartet, which came at a sensitive time in the process of implementation of the project, did not affect the progress of work thanks to Qatar's strong relations with the international companies involved in the project, and the confidence and keenness of these companies to implement the projects in Qatar.
"The companies shipped equipment, pipes and pumps by air and on board the largest cargo aircraft in the world without financial burdens on the State", al-Nasr added, noting that water projects in Qatar are the largest in the world.
He said that the completion rate of the project in Al Thumama site exceeded 90% and ranges in other locations between 85 and 90%, explaining that all construction work has been completed and the remaining are only complementary.
Al-Nasr explained that the project includes 15 water reservoirs, each with a capacity of 1mn gallons.
He highlighted the distinguished role of Qatari cadres in the implementation of the project, including that of the project manager, engineers and supervisors.
He noted that Kahramaa completed more than 105mn working hours in the project without injuries.