Kahramaa saves QR3.8bn since Tarsheed launch

The Qatar General Electricity and Water Corporation (Kahramaa) has reported a revenue saving of approximately QR3.8bn since the launch of the Tarsheed campaign to conserve energy and water in 2012.

While highlighting the achievements of the last five years, Kahramaa said in a statement that the systematic works carried out as part of Tarsheed has helped the corporation make an effective saving of nearly 212,200cu m of natural gas.Ambitious projects are underway in the country to tap solar energy resources, the statement said. The target is to produce between 200mw and 500mw of solar power by the middle of the next decade and several agreements have been signed with different institutions on this.A number of MoUs have also been signed with the aim of generating at least 550mw of alternative energy from sources including solar and wind. Kahramaa said one of the major agreements is with the Qatar Airways and Hamad International Airport (HIA) for more effective use of solar energy for its operations. One of the agreements with the Ministry of Energy and Industry is for the launch and enhanced use of user- and eco-friendly green vehicles in large numbers.It also said it achieved a remarkable milestone of a million man hours without any accidents since the launch of the campaign. The statement said with the district water cooling coming in place in several locations, significant savings of natural gas have been made, and there has been considerable reduction of carbon emissions as well in the last five years. It is estimated that a reduction of at least 380mn tonnes of carbon emissions could be achieved by the turn of the next decade through the Tarsheed campaign. The target for the next five years of Tarsheed is to reduce consumption of electricity across the country by 18% and water 20%. Kahramaa has said five new power stations are being established to cater to the needs of World Cup stadiums. A total of QR800mn has been earmarked for their construction and one of them has already been opened at Khalifa Sports City.Similarly, the first station to supply power to the under construction Doha Metro has already been commissioned and more power stations are coming up in other locations as well, including in Al Waab, Al Bidaa and Lusail. Another unnamed station is in a western Doha site, it is learnt.Most of them would be ready by the end of 2019 and handed over to the authorities well before the schedule. A total of QR696mn has been set apart for the five power stations.The daily potable water production in the country would reach 476mn gallons a days (mlgd) with the complete commissioning of the 2,520mw integrated water and power station at Umm Al Houl on the southern side of Wakra. Now it is close to 454mlgd. The total water generation from Umm Al Houl would be 136mlgd. When it is fully implemented, Umm Al Houl would generate nearly 30% share of the total potable water produced in the country.Kahramaa has also built a sub-station-cum parking facility to accommodate 270 cars on Doha's Grand Hamad Street at a cost of QR155mn. Page 2