Ashghal to build Middle East’s first factory for EV chargers

The Public Works Authority (Ashghal) has signed a memorandum of understanding (MoU) with ABB for the establishment of a factory to produce chargers for electric vehicles. This would be the first factory for ABB E-mobility in the Middle East region, QNA reported yesterday. The agreement has been designed in co-ordination with Qatar Free Zones Authority, which plays a vital part in outreach efforts with stakeholders to ensure promising growth opportunities to investors, especially as it owns the land where the new charging device plant is expected to be built, Ashghal said in a press statement.The signing of the MoU accompanies an electric charging device supplying contract for electric buses, as part of the Ministry of Transport and Communications’ (MoTC) strategy to switch to electric vehicles.Eng. Abdulhakim Al Hashimi, Public Projects Section Head in Building Projects DepartmentThe memorandum includes providing the necessary training for the relevant personnel in order to qualify them to manage and operate the new electric charger factory, while also providing workers with the required expertise and information.Dr Saad bin Ahmed al-Muhannadi, president of Ashghal, said the signing of the MoU comes in line with the directives of HE the Prime Minister and Minister of Interior that involve terms to establish factories in the Free Zones.Abdulhakim al-Hashimi, Public Projects Section head in the Building Projects Department, noted that Ashghal will be responsible for following up on the factory establishment process. This will be done in co-operation with Qatar Free Zones Authority to service electric vehicles in integration with Ashghal’s Public Bus Infrastructure Programme that provides infrastructure for electric buses and electric charging devices.Frank Muehlon, president of ABB’s E-mobility division, added: “As part of ABB’s 2030 sustainability strategy, we are focused on helping fleets unlock the potential of E-mobility with state-of-the art and intelligent charging solutions. As the world moves towards green bus fleets, our solutions are at the leading edge to help cities and regions around the world discover the value of electrification and how it can help us all transition to cleaner and greener transport solutions.”The establishment of this factory will strengthen and support the public transportation plan in Qatar as Ashghal, in co-operation with Mowasalat Company (Karwa), is establishing bus stations and warehouses with the highest technological and environmental standards. These facilities are among the largest electric charging stations for buses in the world, which supports the country’s future vision to protect the environment within Qatar National Vision 2030, the statement added.Ashghal will install 653 electric chargers and 713 inverters at 41 charging sites under construction for the Public Bus Infrastructure Programme to serve the fleet of electric buses, according to the plan set by the MoTC. In addition, Ashghal will build various electrical charging points within and outside Doha and provide all electrical utilities and other necessary infrastructure to connect chargers with electrical transformers and various power stations.Accordingly, Ashghal has signed 14 new contracts worth QR2.4bn for the construction of bus stations and depots. The new bus stations and depots programme implemented by Ashghal’s Buildings Projects Department includes the construction of eight main bus stations in different areas - West Bay, Msheireb, Industrial Area, Al Soudan, Al Gharrafa, Education City, Al Wakra and Lusail - with an average capacity to accommodate 25 buses. Within this contract, Ashghal will also construct four huge bus depots in Lusail, Al Rayyan, Industrial Area and Al Wakra, each with an area of 129,000-190,000sq m.Ashghal will also set up 2,700 bus stops on all major roads, with air-conditioned cabins to wait inside to prevent sunlight and humidity. This will provide great comfort for thousands of bus users in many areas.