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Hisham Al-Jundi
Doha
In a major boost to the country's power sector, the Qatar General Electricity and Water Corporation (Kahramaa) on Sunday signed a slew of contracts totalling QR8.3 billion with a number of local and international companies for electricity network expansion.
The agreements were part of the Phase 13 of the Qatar Power Transmission System Expansion Plan.
The projects include construction of substations and laying of high-voltage cables at major infrastructure-oriented projects across the capital city and suburbs.
A total 77 substations will be constructed in various locations of the country.
The project will also include laying of 453.3 kms of cables ” 400kv cables (36 kms), 220kv cables (47.5 kms), 132kv cables (285.8 kms) and 66kv cables (84 kms).
Kahramaa President Eng Essa bin Hilal al Kuwari signed the contracts with representatives of the companies which have been selected after bidding procedures to carry out these projects. The contracts were signed in the presence of Minister of Energy and Industry HE Dr Mohammed bin Saleh al Sada.
The contractors who signed the contracts for the construction of sub- stations are Siemens AG & Siemens WLL consortium (Qatar ), Larsen& Toubro (India), NCC (KSA), Gulfar (Qatar) and Best & Betas Consortium (Turkey). The Contractors who signed for transmission cables include LS Cable and system (South Korea), Larsen & Toubro, Furukawa (Japan) and Elsewedy Cables (Qatar & Egypt).
Speaking on the occasion, Sada said the contracts were signed to support the local network of the state to support the development and expansion of the country.
The minister said the period of implementation of these contracts ranges from 16 to 26 months.
Sada said these contracts are only a model for the comprehensive development in the country and will support the development process.
The minister expressed the hope that experience of these companies will contribute to the implementation of projects within the specified time, budget and quality, taking into account the safety of their employees.
The Kahramaa president said signing of these contracts are in line with Kahramaa's mission to provide high-quality electricity and water services in the state and part of the company's commitment to contribute to sustainable development, one of the pillars of Qatar National Vision 2030.
The utility provider's expansion project aims to ensure stable power supply to all sectors including households, business centres, shopping malls, hospitals and schools.
All projects will contribute to improving the power infrastructure in and around Doha, especially in the crowded neighbourhoods.
Speaking to Qatar Tribune, Mohammed Mansour al Dosary, Manager of Electricity Projects Department, said the project will provide solution to neighbourhoods with highest demand."Overload in some areas is not because of lack of power, but due to increase in the number of inhabitants at some property. We will take into consideration while distributing the new transmitters," said Dosary.
