DOHA: Qatar’s multi-billion riyal Umm Al Houl Combined Cycle Power Plant will commence commercial operations in three phases, with the first phase scheduled to be operational in April next year.
The $2.5bn (QR9.1bn) ambitious power project, with the installed capacity of producing over 2,500 megawatt of electricity and 136 million gallons of desalinated water, will become fully operational by July 2018, said Jamal Al Khalaf (pictured), CEO of Umm Al Houl Power Company.
“We have received all the six gas turbines. The work is progressing in full swing and the first stage of the power plant will become operational by April next year by producing 40 million gallons of water,” said Al Khalaf. “Once fully operational in July 2018, the plant will have the installed capacity to producing about 23 percent of Qatar’s needs of electricity and 26 percent of water production.”
Al Khalaf was speaking at a press conference on the sidelines of an event held to mark the arrival of Siemens’ six gas turbines for the project on Sunday. Present were Adrian Wood, CEO of Siemens Qatar; and John Chang, Executive Vice-President of Global Business and Operations at Samsung C&T, a partner in the Umm Al Houl project .
In addition to the six turbines, Siemens’ scope of supply also includes four steam turbines and 10 generators. The company has also signed a 25-year service agreement for the plant’s maintenance and servicing. Siemens has been working in Qatar since 1970 in a wide-range of areas, including transport, information technology and energy sectors.
Adrian said that Siemens has many investments in Qatar that are not only limited to energy, but vary in different areas. Siemens revenue in Qatar surpassed over QR1.8bn in 2015. He added that Siemens Qatar is working to transfer technology to Qatar through the provision of skill development and the exchange programme between engineers working in Qatar and those working in the company, noting that the company had opened a centre in the Qatar Science and Technology Park (QSTP) realise the goal.
Umm Al Houl plant is part of Qatar’s biggest power and water projects, located in the Qatar Economic Zone 3, south of the capital city of Doha. The plant will have the capacity of meeting the power and water demand of about 2.5 million homes in the area, including Mesaieed, Al Wakra and other neighbouring places.
Qatar General Electricity and Water Corporation (Kahramaa) owns 60 percent in the project, while Qatar Petroleum owns 5 percent, Qatar Foundation 5 percent and K1 Energy (30 percent) to manage and operate the project. K1 Energy is a consortium of Tokyo Electric Power Company (Tepco) and Mitsubishi Corp.
