DOHA: Work on the New Doha International Airport (NDIA) has entered a new stage with the successful completion of a massive environmental clean-up at the site, which is described as one of the biggest of its kind in the entire Middle East.
A contract for excavation and removal of over 8 million cubic metres of household and industrial waste was awarded to Qatar's Al Jaber Engineering company in December 2004. A ceremony was held at the NDIA site yesterday, to mark completion of the project, which was attended by senior NDIA officials, Qatar Airways Chief Executive Officer Akber Al Baker, Al Jaber Engineering officials, along with a host of other dignitaries.
For over 30 years, areas within the proposed NDIA site were used by the city of Doha for waste disposal. During this time over 8 million cubic meters of household and industrial waste was tipped on to these areas and the surrounding sea.
This rubbish, much of it paper, plastic, glass and timber had to be removed before construction of the new airport could begin, said NDIA chairman Abdul Aziz Al Noaimi, while speaking on the occasion.
Although new to this scale of task, Al Jaber Engineering soon reached the required levels of waste extraction, relocation and high environmental control needed to hit the tight schedule and environmental restrictions required for these works, he noted.
Giving a presentation on the massive clean up scheme, Osama Hadid, managing director of Al Jaber Engineering said, more than 1,000 people and 150 trucks, along with other equipment, were involved in the task which was finished in tight schedule. Omran Assa of NDIA also spoke.
Much of the water had been sitting in the sea for 30 years, decomposing and leaching polluting metals and chemicals into the sea. So much of the waste had to be excavated in a saturated state.
The waste was drained back to the excavated areas in order to dry out prior to transportation. In addition protective bunds were constructed around these areas to prevent further leaching into the sea, said Osama.
Measures were taken to dilute the leachate water to reduce the high levels of contamination. Once complete, the results of this exercise were approved by the government's environmental authorities and the clean water was allowed to discharge into the larger bunded area within the airport development site. This process has been so successful that wading birds, including flamingos have now returned to the area to feed.
A separate haul road was constructed across the desert, avoiding busy public highways, to ensure safe transportation of the dried waste. By May 2005, 150 trucks were running round the clock and moving up to 30,000 cubic metres of waste a day.
Over 1 million cubic metres of construction waste found within the excavation areas was successfully recycled during the excavation works.
At the other end of the 40km road the project is building a fully engineered, environmentally controlled landfill site, which will finally be covered with desert fill to blend with the local scenery. This part of the contract was awarded to the Abu Dhabi based contractor Al Jaber Transport.
© The Peninsula 2006
