12 August 2015
DOHA: Qatar Electricity & Water Company (QEWC) is set to launch the country's biggest integrated water and power project (IWPP). The foundation stone for the QR10bn Umm Al Haul project will be laid next month.

Umm Al Haul, a strategic project of the country, will be one of the largest power and water projects in the region with a production capacity of 2,520 megawatts of electricity and 136 million gallons of drinking water per day, QEWC General Manager Fahad Hamad Al Mohannadi disclosed in a regulatory filing to Qatar Exchange (QE) yesterday.

QEWC owns 60 percent of the project, while other stakeholders include state-owned Qatar Petroleum and Qatar Foundation.

The project will meet Qatar's bourgeoning power and water demand. The utility network will cover Qatar's ambitious upcoming economic zones. QEWC's electricity and water sector project plans are integrated with the plans of its strategic partner Qatar General Electricity and Water Corporation (Kahramaa), Al Mohannadi told Al Sharq.

Mohannadi said QEWC has plans to invest heavily in solar power. The company might invest either in the ongoing solar projects or in new ones. QEWC's investments are well-balanced and aimed to meet the country's hugely projected demand, he said.

"The new project will help the country meet its growing power and water requirements in a big way, when completed. QEWC owns 60 percent of the project, while Qatar Petroelum and Qatar Foundation enjoy 5 percent stake each and Mitsubishi-TEPCO owns the remaining 30 percent", said Jamal Al Khalaf, CEO of Umm Al Haul.

Qatar's electricity and water sector is witnessing an unprecedented boom. Giants projects are in the pipeline to meet the country's growing demands due to rapidly increasing population, he said.

The Umm Al Haul plant will be implemented in three phases. 

The first stage will see production of 40 million gallons water per day in April 2017, while the second phase will see production of an additional 20 million gallons water in May 2017. 

The Umm Al Haul will also witness the production of 1620 megawatts of electricity in July 2017. 

The project will be implemented fully by the second half of 2018 with a capacity of 2,520MW of electricity and 136 million gallons of water per day.

QEWC is one of the largest electricity and water producers in the region. 

The company is currently involved in five major projects in the field of electricity and water in Qatar.

© The Peninsula 2015