Satyendra Pathak
Doha
The construction of Ras Laffan and Mesaieed solar plants is one of Qatar’s most important initiatives to reduce carbon dioxide emissions, to develop sustainability projects, and to diversify electricity generation sources, Minister of State for Energy Affairs and President and CEO of QatarEnergy HE Saad Sherida Al Kaabi has said.
Speaking at the inauguration ceremony of the Ras Laffan and Mesaieed solar photovoltaic (PV) power plants, Al Kaabi emphasized that the two projects are expected to reduce carbon dioxide emissions by about 4.7 million tonnes annually.
The inauguration, held on Monday at Ras Laffan Industrial City, was presided over by the His Highness the Amir of the State of Qatar Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani.
The two plants, with a combined capacity of 875 megawatts (MW), will more than double Qatar’s solar energy production, taking it to a total of 1,675 MW of renewable energy.
Al Kaabi noted that the Ras Laffan and Mesaieed solar plants, together with the previously launched Al Kharsaah plant, will contribute about 15 percent of the country’s total peak electricity demand. “This percentage will rise to 30 percent with the operation of the world-scale 2,000 megawatt Dukhan solar power plant by 2029,” he said.
In his address, the minister highlighted that the start of operation of the Ras Laffan and Mesaieed solar plants marks a significant milestone in the country’s journey toward achieving the fourth pillar of the Qatar National Vision 2030 that is environmental management that balances economic and social development with the protection of natural resources. It also represents a key step toward fulfilling QatarEnergy’s Sustainability Strategy, which aims to generate more than 4,000 MW of renewable energy by 2030.
“We have moved beyond relying on the expertise of others for the construction, operation, and maintenance of solar power plants, and have begun implementing such projects using our own national expertise. We are proud of them and their achievements,” Al Kaabi said, underlining the importance of Qatar’s growing technical self-sufficiency in the energy sector.
Al Kaabi extended his appreciation to the project management teams and all participating companies for their efforts in completing the project on schedule and to a world-class standard.
Concluding his remarks, he said, “I am honoured to express our sincere thanks and gratitude to His Highness the Amir of the State of Qatar Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani for honouring us with his presence today, and for his wise guidance and unlimited support, which have a significant effect on achieving energy projects.”
The commissioning of the Ras Laffan and Mesaieed solar PV plants underscores Qatar’s strong commitment to environmental sustainability, renewable energy development, and the strategic diversification of its energy sources in line with its national vision.
