The 2,730-megawatt Ras Girtas integrated water and power plant, the second largest of its kind in the Middle East and Northern African (Mena) region, was dedicated to the nation by HH the Emir Sheikh Hamad bin Khalifa al-Thani at a ceremony yesterday. HE the Deputy Prime Minister and Chairman of the Emiri Diwan Abdullah bin Hamad al-Attiyah, HE the Minister of Energy and Industry Dr Mohamed bin Saleh al-Sada and many other senior Qatari officials were present at the opening in Ras Laffan Industrial City. Besides power, the plant generates 63mn gallons a day of desalinated water. The massive plant, completed under three years at a cost of QR14bn, is managed by Ras Girtas Power Company (RGPC), which has as its stakeholders Qatar Electricity and Water Company (45%), Qatar Petroleum (15%), Chubu (5%), IPGDF Suez (20%), Mitsui (10%) and Yonden (5%). Describing the project as an architectural marvel, al-Sada said it was a model for power plant construction in the Middle East region. “The basic infrastructural need for any developing country is the secured availability of electric power and water and the Ras Girtas project will help accelerate the pace of economic growth being witnessed in the State of Qatar,” he said. “Under the wise leadership and vision of HH the Emir Sheikh Hamad bin Khalifa al-Thani, Qatar is witnessing an unprecedented economic development that has made the country one of the fastest-growing economies of the world. Projects like Ras Girtas help the state meet its ever growing demand in water and electricity.” A cultural ceremony was held as part of the opening ceremony. The plant started supplying 1,833-megawatt of electricity from July last year. At a briefing, Ras Girtas Power Company chairman Saad Sherida al-Kaabi said the project could supply to the Qatar General Electricity and Water Corporation (Kahramaa) about 30% of the electricity and 20% of desalinated water generated in the country. Vice chairman and CEO Faisal Obaid al-Siddiqi said that there had been a huge leap in Qatar’s demand for electricity and water because of the rising population. “We are committed to meet the growing demands for water and power in the country; the completion of the Ras Girtas project would help the state achieve its targets faster than expected,” said al-Siddiqi. The plant has eight F3 gas turbines of 235--megawatt each and four steam turbines of 260--megawatt each from MHI Japan and 10 MED units from Sidem, France. Under a 25-year build-own-operate and transfer agreement, RGPC will supply its power and water output to Kahramaa. The project, designed by Mitsui with Hyundai Engineering and Construction as the major sub-contractor, is located at Ras Laffan.

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