Qatar achieved yet another strategic success yesterday as Amir H H Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani inaugurated the Umm Al Houl Power plant in Umm Al Houl, south of Al Wakra. It is a quantum gallop towards securing uninterrupted supply of electricity and potable water in the country. The plant with a capacity of 2,520MW of electricity and 136.5 million gallons of desalinated water per day, it will secure 30 percent of the state’s electricity demands and 40 percent water needs. With the opening of the plant, Qatar is steadily moving towards the goal of completing many of the major strategic projects envisaged under Qatar National Vision 2030 in a time-bound manner.
Steady and enough supply of electricity is not only one of the most fundamental requirements of any stable economy, but also a strategic requirement for a country’s development. And it goes without saying that water is the quintessential necessity to sustain human life.
During the inauguration of the plant, Minister of State for Energy Affairs H E Saad bin Sherida Al Kaabi said that the QR11bn project is one of the most important power projects in the State of Qatar and an addition to the long list of projects that the state has implemented to provide the necessary infrastructure for development and to support comprehensive development in the country. H E the Minister added that the project, despite all the challenges, has been completed on time, with highest technical and international standards and taking into account even the minimal impact on the environment.
The project’s importance lies in its production procedure which combines efficiency of performance through optimal utilisation of natural gas and the diversity of water purification mechanism, through the best use of thermal energy and reverse osmosis technology, which are considered the best with regard to the protection of environment by reducing the carbon footprint to a very minimum level.
Umm Al Houl Power project is one of the major milestones in the journey towards materialising the vision of all round development of the country and making it self-sufficient in every fields, whether it is infrastructure, food, housing, education, sports or entertainment. The country never allowed the unjust siege imposed on it to stymie the progress of developmental works. Each project conceived under Qatar National Vision 2030 is witnessing a fast-paced progress and will be completed within the specified time frame pushing Qatar to the league of the most developed and progressive nations.
Under the wise leadership of Qatar, every citizen and resident are working like a well-oiled machine to achieve the targeted goals and the peace and stability prevailing in the country are acting as powerful catalyst in this process of development.
