By Joanna Hartley
The founding stone of one of the largest water and power plants to be built in the region was laid on Monday at the US$3.9 billion Ras Girtas Power and Water Project in Qatar.
The project on Ras Laffan will start its first phase of production in 2010 and will be completed in April 2011, according to Qatar daily The Peninsula.
It will have a total capacity of 2,730MW of electricity and 63 million gallons per day (MIGD) of potable water that will constitute 30 percent of electricity, and 20 percent of potable water, delivered via the national grid.
Once complete the plant will also provide off-peak electricity to neighbouring GCC countries via a planned regional power grid. Kuwait has already approached Qatar about buying excess electricity from them this summer.
Speaking at the groundbreaking ceremony, deputy premier and Minister of Energy and Industry, Abdullah bin Hamad Al Attiyah said: “The project will also enhance the importance and value of the GCC grid connection project by providing additional electricity to the grid outside peak hours.”
The project is a joint venture between Qatar Petroleum (15%), Qatar Electricity and Water Company (45%), GDF Suez of France (20%), Mitsui Corporation of Japan (10%), Chubu Corporation of Japan (5%) and Shikoku Corporation of Japan (5%).
Mitsui Corporation of Japan was contracted as the main EPC contractor to build the project, which in turn sub-contracted Hyundai Engineering and Construction Company of Korea, Mitsubishi Heavy Industry of Japan and Sidem of France.
Qatar’s stable financial position and political environment, government support for investment, and availability of legislation and guarantees had contributed to the confidence of local and international banks in financing local projects, such as the Ras Girtas Project, Al Attiyah added.
Careful consideration had been given to minimise and control emissions from the plant to meet international levels and standards, he said, adding that he project would be completed on time, within allocated budgets and with a high level of quality and safety standards.
Source: Arabianbusiness.com
