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Sunday, February 01, 2026 | Daily Newspaper published by GPPC Doha, Qatar.

Tag Results for "electricity" (7 articles)

Gulf Times
Business

Producer price index of industrial sector edges lower in in November

The Producer Price Index (PPI) of Qatar's industrial sector recorded 100.45 points in last November, reflecting a 0.27 % decline compared to the previous month, and a 9.28% year-on-year decrease compared to the corresponding month in 2024.The PPI for the industrial sector is composed of four main sectors: mining, which accounts for 82.46% of the index; manufacturing (15.85%); electricity (1.16%); and water (0.53%).Data released by the National Planning Council showed a 0.62% decrease in the mining and quarrying sector index in November compared to October 2025. This decline was attributed to a 0.62% drop in prices of crude oil and natural gas extraction, while prices in other mining and quarrying activities remained unchanged.On an annual basis, the mining and quarrying sector index declined by 11.57% compared to November 2024, driven by an 11.59% decrease in crude oil and natural gas prices and a 0.10% decline in other mining and quarrying activities.In the manufacturing sector, the index recorded a 0.51% increase compared to October 2025. This rise was the result of higher prices in two sub-sectors: basic metals, up 1.75%, and chemicals and chemical products, up 0.79%.Meanwhile, declines were recorded in several sub-sectors, including food products (1.34%), cement and other non-metallic mineral products (0.62%), beverages (0.31%), refined petroleum products (0.31%), and rubber and plastics products (0.24%). Prices in the printing and reproduction of recorded media sub-sector remained unchanged.On a year-on-year basis, the manufacturing sector index increased by 1.33%. This was driven by higher prices in chemicals and chemical products (5.99%), food products (1.70%), and printing and reproduction of recorded media (0.16%).Conversely, prices declined in refined petroleum products (8.56%), cement and other non-metallic mineral products (4.63%), beverages (3.89%), rubber and plastics products (3.28%), and basic metals (0.11%).In the electricity, gas, steam, and air conditioning supply sector, the PPI rose by 9.61% compared to October 2025, and increased by 0.34% compared to November 2024.Similarly, the water supply sector recorded a 4.28% increase in its index compared to the previous month (October 2025), and a 19.97% rise compared to the corresponding month of November 2024. 

People observe an area affected by a blackout that hit about 130,000 residents, according to the Pacific Gas and Electric Company, in San Francisco. Reuters
International

Major power outage hits San Francisco

A huge electricity outage hit San Francisco on Saturday, leaving 130,000 residents without power for several hours at its peak, with the city's main provider saying all services would return overnight.Pacific Gas & Electric Company said in a statement on X that power had been restored to about 110,000 households by 7am Sunday, "with the remaining customers expected to be restored overnight”.The outage caused traffic jams and forced some businesses to close temporarily.Large parts of the West Coast tech hub, which has a population of more than 800,000 people, were plunged into darkness, with disruptions to public transport and many traffic lights not working on a busy Christmas shopping weekend before power began to be restored."I know this was a rough day," San Francisco Mayor Daniel Lurie said in a video posted on X from the city's emergency operations centre. "That is progress (on restoration of power)... but for those of you who do not have power, we want to make sure you stay safe, check on your neighbours."He said that police, fire department and other city officials had been sent out and asked residents to stay home if possible.Many traffic signals were out, leaving traffic police to manage intersections and the self-driving ride-hailing service Waymo had paused operation of its vehicles, he said.A fire at a substation had caused the blackout, Lurie said.Parts of the city were blanketed in fog and many businesses were forced to close for the day at the height of the holiday shopping period, the *San Francisco Chronicle newspaper reported, leaving normally bustling commercial areas quiet."A large power outage is impacting San Francisco – only call 9-1-1 for life safety emergencies, avoid non-essential travel, treat ⁠down traffic signals as four-way stops, keep refrigerator and freezer doors closed, and turn off major appliances to prevent surges," the San Francisco Department of Emergency Management said in a post on social media early Sunday.The abrupt fall in shoppers just days before Christmas was "devastating" for business, a manager of Black & Gold home goods store, told the *San Francisco Chronicle.Separately, Tesla chief executive Elon Musk said Sunday that the company's robotaxis were unaffected by the outage. 

Gulf Times
Qatar

Kahramaa to implement new GCC Regulation for water conservation devices

As part of its ongoing efforts to promote sustainability, Qatar General Electricity and Water Corporation “Kahramaa”, in collaboration with the Qatar General Organization for Standards and Metrology (QGOSM), has announced the implementation of the GCC technical regulation for water conservation devices in Qatar. The corporation confirmed that compliance will be mandatory for all products covered by the regulation starting from February 24, 2026, ensuring alignment with national sustainability goals and enhancing water efficiency in Qatar under the unified GCC framework.The regulation encompasses a wide range of devices and products, including showerheads, shower faucets and mixers, public and private restrooms faucets and mixers, ablution area faucets and mixers, kitchen faucets and mixers, bidet faucets and mixers, flow regulators attached to sanitary fixtures, squat toilet flushing tanks, and single-flush or dual-flush toilets. All these products must meet stringent technical requirements to ensure water efficiency and compliance with GCC standards.The regulation also mandates the placement of the GCC Green Label on every covered product. This label provides essential information such as water consumption rate (in liters per minute or per flush), the GCC conformity mark with a traceability code (GCTS) for electronic verification of product registration data, and a star rating (4 or 5 stars) indicating the level of water efficiency. This system aims to empower consumers to make informed purchasing decisions and select the most efficient products, thereby reducing water wastage and supporting sustainability objectives.Kahramaa urges all suppliers to prepare early and complete conformity procedures in accordance with international standards under Article 20 of the regulation. Manufacturers are required to implement conformity assessment procedures based on ISO/IEC 17067 through an accredited third party chosen by the manufacturer to issue the conformity certificate and green label after reviewing technical documentation and testing representative samples. This process must be repeated every three years. The regulation specifies that the responsibility for conformity lies with the manufacturer, not the importer, while linking importer data at the national level across GCC countries.Through its national program for conservation and energy efficiency “Tarsheed”, Kahramaa continues to conduct awareness campaigns targeting suppliers about technical requirements and necessary documentation, including the use of the green label and GCTS code at points of sale. A comprehensive workshop will be held on December 16, 2025, bringing together suppliers and all relevant stakeholders to explain implementation mechanisms and address technical inquiries. Kahramaa and QGOSM call on all suppliers and stakeholders to ensure early preparation and full compliance with the regulation, verify product readiness and technical files, and complete conformity procedures to obtain the green label before market launch.This initiative is part of “Tarsheed” program launched by Kahramaa in 2012, which has achieved significant milestones in improving electricity and water efficiency and promoting a culture of sustainability. The corporation continues its efforts, in collaboration with regulatory bodies and market partners, to raise awareness on electricity and water conservation, update information on water-related devices, and streamline GCC conformity procedures, ensuring product quality and preserving national resources for future generations.

Gulf Times
Qatar

Kahramaa reveals operational readiness for FIFA Arab Cup 2025

Qatar General Electricity & Water Corp (Kahramaa) announced its comprehensive operational and strategic preparations to support the FIFA Arab Cup Qatar 2025 through integrated plans covering the sectors of electricity, water, conservation and energy efficiency, district cooling services, and renewable energy.In a statement Monday, the Corp explained that this advanced state of readiness reaffirms its commitment to enhancing operational efficiency and ensuring the sustainability of essential services in alignment with Qatar National Vision 2030 and the Third National Development Strategy 2024-2030.His Excellency President of the Qatar General Electricity & Water Corp (Kahramaa) Eng. Abdullah bin Ali al-Deyab said, "Kahramaa continues to advance the readiness of the State's vital infrastructure in line with Qatar's aspirations to host major sporting events, contributing to a model organisational experience built on the highest standards of efficiency and sustainability.""Our preparations for the FIFA Arab Cup Qatar 2025 reflect a deep-rooted commitment to providing reliable and uninterrupted services that support Qatar National Vision 2030 and highlight the level of development achieved across the country's operational sectors," he added.Kahramaa said it continues to enhance the readiness of the electricity sector for the FIFA Arab Cup Qatar 2025 through an integrated operational approach focused on grid stability, supply flexibility, and precision in emergency response. This readiness is supported by a network of high-efficiency electrical stations, including high and medium-voltage transmission substations, all of which undergo comprehensive preventive-maintenance programs designed to ensure full reliability with zero downtime.In this context, Sector Director of Electricity Networks Affairs at Kahramaa Eng. Ahmad Ali al-Kuwari said, "The Electricity Networks Affairs continues to implement precise operational plans based on the highest technical standards to ensure stable electricity supply across all facilities of the FIFA Arab Cup Qatar 2025. Our teams have enhanced the readiness of transmission and distribution substations, activated advanced load-monitoring systems, and carried out comprehensive protection-system testing to ensure safe and continuous operations. We are committed to providing a reliable electrical network that supports the success of the tournament and reflects the State's readiness to host major sporting events."Kahramaa relies on an advanced and wide-scale water system as part of its preparations for the FIFA Arab Cup Qatar 2025. This system is supported by a robust infrastructure that includes large-capacity strategic reservoirs distributed across various regions of the country to always ensure water availability, even during peak operational periods.The Corp manages this system according to strict standards that ensure supply stability, including the distribution of water through flexible networks capable of accommodating high demand during the tournament days.Sector Director of Water Networks Affairs at the Corp Eng. Fahad Yousef Tolefat also stated that "the Water Networks Affairs places great importance on ensuring a stable and secure water supply throughout the tournament. We have strengthened the readiness of strategic reservoirs and distribution networks, activated digital monitoring systems to track water levels and pressure in real time, and implemented advanced laboratory testing programmes along with continuous field inspections to ensure water quality and the safe supply of water to stadiums and facilities. Our full readiness reflects Kahramaa's commitment to supporting the tournament with the highest levels of efficiency and reliability."On the other hand, Kahramaa strengthened its conservation efforts during the FIFA Arab Cup Qatar 2025 through an integrated system that relies on the latest technologies, the implementation of effective regulatory policies, and awareness programs targeting users inside and outside sports facilities.Kahramaa, represented by the District Cooling Services Department, is working to ensure the readiness and efficiency of district cooling systems in stadiums and facilities associated with the FIFA Arab Cup Qatar 2025, considering varying climatic conditions and high operational requirements.As part of its preparations for the tournament, Kahramaa is developing cooling systems in accordance with the highest technical standards by identifying actual thermal-load requirements and applying smart technologies to manage loads and ensure smooth operations. District cooling systems in Qatar have demonstrated their prominent role during previous tournaments, where they significantly contributed to reducing energy and water consumption.In the context of the tournament, Kahramaa also monitors the performance of the solar-energy systems serving the sports facilities and ensures seamless integration of renewable-energy generation with the national grid through updated digital platforms that provide real-time data on production and consumption. This strengthens sustainability and reduces emissions associated with operating the event's facilities.Kahramaa reaffirmed its full readiness to support the FIFA Arab Cup Qatar 2025 through smart operational systems, advanced infrastructure, and highly trained technical teams ensuring uninterrupted essential services across all tournaments, venues and reinforcing Qatar's global leadership in hosting major sporting events.  

A resident looks through a broken window of an apartment building hit by a Russian drone strike in Kyiv, Ukraine, Tuesday. (Reuters)
International

Russia barrage on Kyiv kills 7, disrupts energy supplies

Russia launched a new barrage of drones and missiles at the Ukrainian capital Kyiv Tuesday, officials said, killing seven people, wounding 21, and disrupting electricity and heating systems as Ukraine raced to finalise a US-backed peace deal.President Volodymyr Zelensky said Russian forces launched more than 460 drones and 22 missiles, their second major strike on Kyiv this month. The air force said it had downed most of the drones and around half of the missiles."The primary targets were the energy sector and everything that keeps normal life going," Zelenskiy said in a post on the Telegram app. As Russia hit Kyiv in several waves of attacks, diplomatic talks on ending the war gained some momentum.Ukrainian, European, and US officials have held several rounds of talks in recent days, and Ukraine Tuesday signalled support for the framework for a peace deal while stressing that sensitive issues needed to be fixed."What matters most now is that all partners move toward diplomacy together, through joint efforts. Pressure on Russia must deliver results," Zelensky said, urging uninterrupted weapons and air defence supplies to Kyiv.Zelensky said that four Russian drones had flown over Ukraine's neighbours Moldova and Nato-member Romania. Romania said it had scrambled fighter jets to track drones which breached its territory near the border with Ukraine.Romania shares a 650-km land border with Ukraine and has had drones breach its airspace and fragments fall onto its territory repeatedly since Russia began attacking Kyiv's ports across the Danube.Ukraine's Energy Ministry said Russian strikes had disrupted electricity supplies to more than 102,000 people in five Ukrainian regions.Tymur Tkachenko, the head of the military administration for the capital, said damage was recorded at 13 sites across Kyiv. Residential and commercial buildings and infrastructure were damaged.Kyiv city officials also said heating supplies across several districts in the capital were restricted. The weather is unseasonably warm with temperatures hovering at about 8 degrees Celsius."The Russians are deliberately targeting civilian infrastructure and housing. Cynical terror," Tkachenko said on Telegram.Moscow denies intentionally targeting civilians despite having killed thousands of them since launching its invasion in 2022. It says civilian infrastructure such as energy supplies are legitimate targets to hurt Ukraine's ability to fight.Ukrainian officials also said that port and energy infrastructure were damaged in the Black Sea port of Odesa, where six people were injured.

Gulf Times
Qatar

Qatar participates GCC Electricity and Water Co-operation Committee meeting

Qatar participated in the 31st preparatory meeting of the Electricity and Water Co-operation Committee of the Gulf Co-operation Council (GCC) countries, held in Kuwait. HE President of Qatar General Electricity and Water Corp (Kahramaa) Eng. Abdulla bin Ali Al Theyab led Qatar's delegation at the meeting. The meeting discussed ways to enhance Gulf integration in the electricity and water sectors, progress on electricity and water interconnection projects, and support for energy efficiency and demand management programs. Governance frameworks and monitoring mechanisms for joint projects were also addressed. HE Eng. Al Theyab affirmed Qatar's commitment to continuing to work with its brothers to develop an integrated Gulf infrastructure that ensures the security and sustainability of supplies and supports the goals of the transition to clean energy.

QatarEnergy is currently building the Dukhan solar power plant, which will double Qatar's solar power generation capacity to more than 4,000MW of renewable energy.
Business

QatarEnergy doubles country's solar capacity to 1,675MW of renewable electricity since June 2022

QatarEnergy doubled country's solar capacity to 1,675MW of renewable electricity since June 2022, the energy major said Tuesday.QatarEnergy is currently building the Dukhan solar power plant, which will double Qatar's solar power generation capacity to more than 4,000MW of renewable energy.The Dukhan plant, one of the largest in the world, will be developed in two phases, reaching a total electricity generation capacity of 2,000 megawatts (MW) by mid-2029.Once completed, it will double Qatar’s solar power production capacity, contributing significantly to the country’s renewable energy goals.The 800-megawatt (MW) Al-Kharsaah solar power plant, Qatar’s first such facility, began supplying electricity to Qatar’s national grid in June 2022.Since then, QatarEnergy has built and operated the Ras Laffan and Mesaieed solar power plants with a combined capacity of 875MW, doubling Qatar's production capacity to 1,675MW of renewable electricity.QatarEnergy established QatarEnergy Renewable Solutions in 2017 with the purpose of financing, building, operating, and maintaining solar power facilities, and selling electricity generated from solar power within the State of Qatar.Recently, QatarEnergy signed an agreement with Samsung C&T's Engineering & Construction Group (Samsung C&T) for the construction of a world-scale solar power plant in Dukhan.When completed, the Dukhan solar power plant, along with Al-Kharsaah, Mesaieed, Ras Laffan solar power plants will help reduce carbon dioxide emissions by about 4.7mn tonnes annually, while contributing up to 30% of Qatar’s total peak electricity demand.According to QatarEnergy, the Dukhan solar power plant will begin the first phase of production by adding 1,000MW of power to the Kahramaa grid towards the end of 2028.The new plant will utilise a solar tracker system and will enhance efficiency by installing inverters capable of operating flawlessly in a high-temperature environment.