The two-day strategic networking event is set to examine water conservation solutions in the oil & gas industry

Dubai, 19 May, 2012 - The CWC Group, a leading events company focused on energy and infrastructure issues, will hold its inaugural Global Water: Oil & Gas Summit on May 22 & 23 at the Mina A’Salam Hotel in Madinat Jumeirah, Dubai.

“This event combines two vital topics – energy production and water conservation, and we are proud to receive the Royal Patronage of HH Sheikh Mohammed bin Maktoum bin Juma Al Maktoum,” said H. Frederic Ponton, CWC Group’s Director of Government Relations – Middle East.

Under the theme “Water Solutions for the Oil & Gas Industry,” the summit will feature many of the oil and gas industry’s foremost experts as they examine best-practices and new technologies focused on water conservation and efficiency during energy production. The event will provide a platform for top-level industry executives to exchange innovative ideas and form strategic partnerships focused on water conservation.

“Energy production is a water-intensive process,” said Shane White, Senior Producer of CWC Group. “Water is a valuable resource and we’re exploring methods to use it more effectively, both from an environmental standpoint and as a means to save costs and boost production efficiency.”

The first day of the summit will kick-off with a session assessing new water treatment technologies, such as Forward Osmosis and Self-Contained Evaporation, which mitigate costs and improve production. The afternoon sessions will focus on successful water management models and methods for recycling water and reducing water usage footprints during oil and gas production.

The summit will continue on Wednesday with a session hosted by IDA dedicated to comparing the costs of various water treatment processes and highlighting the effectiveness of desalination in oil and gas operations throughout the Middle East and North Africa. The day’s events will continue with a session analysing water usage regulations affecting the oil and gas industry and how particularly water-intensive procedures, such as extracting oil from mature fields, can be efficiently managed. The summit will conclude with a session hosted by DOW Water & Process highlighting their innovative solutions for increasing the amount of crude oil that can be extracted from existing fields while managing limited water availability.

“We have brought together some of the industry’s leading experts,” said Shane White. “Our panels are comprised of senior-level representatives from companies such as Saudi Aramco, Shell International, ConocoPhillips and ENOC along with leading university academics, key government representatives and even experts from NASA. The summit will highlight best-practices for water usage in the oil and gas industry by using proven methods and featuring international case studies. Industry stakeholders from around the world will come away with a thorough understanding of the issues and proven solutions and useful contacts so they can move their operations forward. ”

The CWC Group has partnered with UAE Ministry of Environment & Water, Dubai’s Supreme Council of Energy and the Government of Dubai to organise the event and is receiving support from Global Water Intelligence, the International World Water Council, International Desalination Association and the Produced Water Society.

Bin Shafar: “District cooling helps DTCM achieve goal of reducing carbon footprint of Dubai hotels”

Dubai, UAE, 15th May 2012: On the occasion of The Hotel Show 2012, the specialized exhibition in the hospitality industry in the region being held from 15 to 17 May at Dubai World Trade Centre, Emirates Central Cooling Systems Corporation (Empower) has announced that it registered a 30% growth in hotel customers at end of April 2012, compared to same period of last year.

The company called for greater awareness to implement District Cooling (DC) by hotels in the region, as this will bring benefits to hotels themselves, their customers and the entire society and economy.

Ahmad Bin Shafar, CEO of Empower said: “We support specialized exhibitions like this one in order to spread awareness on DC to hotels. To date, 26 hotels in Dubai use DC services from Empower. We are optimistic that more hotels will move towards this emerging technology which offers great advantages over conventional cooling offerings. While considering the growth rate of hotel rooms in the UAE during this period, Empower’s growth in the segment exceeds the hotel industry rate.”

Dubai Department of Tourism & Commerce (DTCM) has mandated that all hotels must reduce their carbon footprint and opt for environment friendly amenities and supplies. This is where DC fits in, according to Bin Shafar.

He emphasised that DC is ideal for hotels as it is environment-friendly, cost-effective and hassle-free. It helps save on cost of cooling, maintenance, installation and capital expenditure.

Bin Shafar added: “The current market tendencies give more room to adopt DC technology for hotel buildings, especially where initial capital investment is a deciding factor.  District Cooling saves the customer from investment on plant room, chillers and equipments, water tanks, cooling towers, sub stations, additional drainage facilities, civil structure, cabling works, control and instrumentation, additional space, manpower requirements and maintenance. This will enable hotel financiers to divert more initial funds to other areas of the venture.”

Demand for district cooling has been increasing rapidly in the last decade. In the UAE, it was first used in the 1970s at the Dubai International Airport. It began to be adopted commercially in 1998 with the real estate boom in the country. The adoption rate in this technology has remarkably increased in the past five years especially amongst large scale projects.

In Dubai, residents  are becoming increasingly aware of the importance of using district cooling system as an alternative to conventional AC system, leading to energy saving and environment conservation, as well as lower operations and maintenance costs.

District Cooling Technology provides all the benefits of out-sourcing the technology and facilities instead of bearing its establishment cost. The quality of cooling from a DC plant is ideal for the ambience of hotels. More hotels are expected to receive cooling from Empower’s DC plants in 2012.

The Hotel Show is gathering over 14,800 hospitality professionals for 3 days of intensive business networking, industry awards, conferences and hospitality functions. With its proven track record of delivery, spanning 13 years. The Hotel Show is the largest hospitality supplies event for the Middle East and North Africa region.

HE Dr Mohammed bin Saleh Al-Sada, Minister for Energy & Industry & Tasweeq Chairman inaugurated the new headquarters of Qatar International Petroleum Marketing Company (Tasweeq) and launched Tasweeq’s new website on May 14, 2012 at the Renaissance Office Tower.

The ceremony was attended by Sheikh Faisal bin Qassim Al Thani, Chairman of Al-Faisal Holding; the owners of Renaissance Office Tower, and VIP guests with media persons.

Mr. Saad Al-Kuwari, Tasweeq’s CEO, thanked HE Dr. Al-Sada for his continuous support and the presence of distinguished guests. Mr. Al-Kuwari commented, “We chose the Renaissance Office Tower as an ideal location in the West Bay consistent with our international presence and mission as Qatar’s marketing arm to the world.”

He further added, “At Tasweeq, we strive to present Tasweeq in the best possible image, as the ‘Supplier of Choice’ from Qatar. We are a successful and growing company continually innovating and improving our standards, staying true to our vision of delivering Qatar’s energy to the globe - Reliably, Efficiently and Responsibly.”

Further, Mr. Abdulla Al-Abdulmalek, Tasweeq’s Executive Director - Administration, provided a detailed presentation of the website to the VIPs and media members present during the inauguration.

The new and improved website tasweeq.com.qa adopts a sophisticated look with improved features of online recruitment & careers and an updated products section under our umbrella that Tasweeq exports to the world including GTL products. The primary feature of the website is the ease in navigation through the different sections. Tasweeq also introduces an Arabic website for non-English users, wanting to know more about the Company.

The website also comprises Tasweeq’s direction statement and effective guidelines for conducting business with Tasweeq in addition to the information about our producing entities, ports regulations and Qatar; thus capitalising on Tasweeq’s commitment to its customers, producing entities and stakeholders.

His Excellency Dr. Mohammed bin Saleh Al-Sada, Minister of Energy and Industry and Chairman & Managing Director of Qatar Petroleum (QP), inaugurated the International Production and Operations Conference and Exhibition (POCE), a major industry event that is being held for the first time in the Middle East.

“We are very proud to host this prestigious event, as it signifies Qatar’s growing role in the technical and economic sectors and stands as a testimony of the wise and visionary leadership of His Highness, the Emir of Qatar, Sheikh Hamad bin Khalifa Al Thani,” said H.E. Dr. Al-Sada in his keynote address.

H.E. the Minister also highlighted how technological innovation has contributed greatly in Qatar’s economic growth and in the continued development of the country’s oil and gas industry.

“Advances in the oil and gas engineering technology over the past several years have played a significant role in the successful transformation of Qatar’s economy. It has left an indelible footprint on the path of Qatar’s development as the world’s leading producer and transporter of LNG. It has played a monumental role in the development of the North Field, the largest single natural gas reservoir in the world, and helped in establishing pioneer world-class facilities along the entire LNG production and export value chain,” said H.E. Dr. Al-Sada.

“Besides these examples, field development plans for three QP-operated oil fields are currently underway. The redevelopment of these fields are being carried out using the latest ’smart’ oilfield technology that will help improve recovery from these mature fields,” he added.

QP is the host organization and titanium sponsor of the POCE 2012, which is under the patronage of H.E. Dr. Al-Sada and organized by the Society of Petroleum Engineers (SPE). The opening ceremony was attended by senior QP officials, the top management of oil & gas companies, industry professionals and conference delegates from all over the world.

Mr. Said Mubarak Al Mohannadi, QP Director of Operations, is the Conference Chairman of POCE 2012, while Mr. Misfer Saleh Hamad Al-Bidaiwi, Manager of Gas Recycling at QP, serves as the Programme Co-Chair.

Following the official opening of the conference and exhibition, an executive plenary session was held, during which Mr. Saad Sherida Al-Kaabi, QP Director for Oil and Gas Ventures and a member of the QP Board of Directors, shared his insights on the conference theme: “Production Optimisation Challenges: Meeting Global Energy Demand.”

Over the course of the three-day event, QP staff will be presenting a total of seven technical papers, and other QP personnel will also be taking an active part in the poster sessions. The technical papers from QP will focus, among others, on the shift towards intelligent oil fields, gas flaring reduction strategies, well integrity evaluation, and other case studies related to the corporation’s production operations.

In addition to its strong presence in the conference, QP is also a major exhibitor at the POCE 2012 exhibition, which has attracted the participation of international oil and gas companies. The QP stand, which occupies a total of 72 square meters in area, showcases the corporation’s prominent role in the global energy industry, with particular emphasis on its oil and gas production operations.

Dubai, UAE – 8th May, 2012: Dubai Electricity & Water Authority (DEWA) and Knowledge & Human Development Authority (KHDA) today honoured the winners of its ‘Conservation Award – For A Better Tomorrow 2011-2012’, given to educational institutions and teaching establishments in Dubai for best practices in electricity and water consumption.

The Award, which is in its seventh year, is an integral part of DEWA’s community outreach and engagement initiative for sustaining precious natural resources, and is held in partnership with Knowledge and Human Development Authority (KHDA), at a consolidated expenditure of AED 800,000.

During his inaugural speech, HE Saeed Mohammed Al Tayer, MD &CEO, said, “In accordance with the  long-term ‘Strategy for Green Development’ and Dubai’s vision, DEWA has through the years, designed and developed well-defined programmes, initiatives and marketing-communication campaigns to address the threat of global warming. The ‘Conservation Award – For a Better Tomorrow’ is a major step in this direction and showcases DEWA’s key role in the area of sustainability and environment.

“The Award in 2011-2012 has yielded promising and remarkable results in the conservation of electricity and water. Educational institutions, students and faculties reduced the consumption of electricity by 13% and water by 39%, compared with the consumption reduction levels of 2010. Additionally, participants from the residential consumer segment reduced their consumption by 10% in electricity, and 44% in water in comparison to 2010 levels. Participants in all categories were able to save 28 million kWh. Another achievement was recorded in saving 123 million Imperial Gallons in water consumption. Accordingly, there was a reduction in CO2 emissions of 17,000 Tons, and the total savings recorded was around AED 17 million.”

“The educational community forms a perfect audience base to raise awareness and spread the message of conservation, especially, with regard to rational consumption of electricity and water. Considering the impressionable years of this segment of the society, it is DEWA’s goal to educate children in order to inculcate the practice of responsible use of resources,” he added.

Through this initiative, DEWA is hoping to spread awareness about the importance of the education community’s participation in the ‘Conservation Award’ and establish the thought-leadership of DEWA among both its customers and critical stakeholders.

“Each person in the society has an important role to play in conservation of vital energy and water resources. By involving educational institutions in this critical process, DEWA has been successful in engaging the community at an early stage in order to develop responsible attitudes and habits. I am certain that the ‘Conservation Award’ will help create awareness about the importance of rational consumption of our natural resources and responsible use of electricity and water for a better tomorrow,” said Dr. Abdulla Al Karam, Chairman of the Board of Directors and Director General, KHDA.

The award’s recipients include 25 educational institutions, 25 coordinators representing respective winning institutions, six Best Conservation Teams and Team Coordinators from the Academic Level. Seven nominated Facility-Management workers five Best Nominated Parents from the winning institutions and three residential consumers.

The ceremony highlighted the achievements of individuals in the conservation initiative, such as students, staff, parents, and members of the facilities management and administration sections of the participating institutions. It also included a ‘Conservation Practice – Showcase’ wherein the efforts of the winning institutions were displayed at the venue.

The list of winners included BITS - Pilani in the University Category, which came in the first place, followed by University of Dubai in the second place. Special recognition was dedicated to Dubai Police Adult Education Centre, an Adult Educational Centre, and Al Noor Training Centre for Children with Special Needs. Winners from the Nurseries Category included Mother Care Nursery (first place), Kangaroo Kids Nursery (second place), Jumeirah International Nursery (third place). From the Kindergarten category, Dubai Infants School won the first place, GEMS Jumeirah Primary School (second place), Al Minhal Kindergarten (third place).

The Primary Schools Category winners included Al Nahda School (first place), Abu Haneefa School (second place), and Uptown Primary School (third place). The Intermediate Schools Category winners included Al Waha School (first place), American International School (second place) and The Sheffield private School (third place). The Secondary Schools Category winners included Al Mizhar American Academy School (first place), Buds Public School (second place) and Dubai International Academy (third place).

The ‘Conservation Award – For A Better Tomorrow’, established in line with Dubai’s commitment towards environment sustainability, received the Dubai Government Excellence Program Award (DGEP) 2009 for achieving outstanding savings in electricity and water consumption, and for its incremental growth in participation and popularity within the educational sector.

The annual Saudi Arabian Energy EPC Projects Conference in Al-Khobar took place from 23-24 April.

“The Aims and Objectives of Saudi Arabian Energy EPC Projects 2011 conference address the opportunities, issues and strategies for procuring and delivering world-class EPC services for major energy projects in the Kingdom. The event dedicated to covering projects in both the upstream and downstream sectors,” Faisal S. Alfadl, fa PARTNERS.

Attracted more than 130 delegates interested in future business opportunities in the kingdom’s major projects industry.

The event Conference, Workshop and Exhibition permitted by royal instruction of high commission for conferences and exhibitions number 9388/mb dated 27/07/1426 AH approved by Ministry of Commerce and Industry number A/1118/6/2/267 dated 21/041433 AH. Partners by faisal alfadl PARTNERS, Saudi Magazine and UK Trade and Investment. Organised by MEED gC Company, Ltd.

A first-class speaker line-up included presentations from leading clients based in the Kingdom, which included the Royal Commission of Jubail & Yanbu, SIPCHEM, Tasnee and National Water Company. The event were at two-fold. Firstly to provide a platform for Saudi Arabian companies in the energy and utilities sectors to showcase their projects to the regional construction sector and secondly to cover in-depth the key issues underpinning EPC project development in the kingdom.

Major issues raised and discussed at the event over the duration of the conference included:

• The strong prospects for the Saudi Arabian economy over the next 12 months (with particular focus on the strong demand for Saudi Arabian oil and the benefits that would bring the EPC market).
• The announcement by Essar Projects of India (major international EPC contractor) that it wanted to establish strategic alliances with Saudi Arabian firms as part of its campaign to win major EPC projects in the kingdom
• Discussion around the major challenges and issues faced by KSA based EPC contractors (focusing on regulation, pricing and competition in particular)
• The plan by the Royal Commission for Jubail & Yanbu is to invite bids for a total of 29 contracts worth SR6bn ($1.6bn) for infrastructure projects in Ras Al-Khair industrial city.
• The plan by the National Water Company (NWC) of Saudi Arabia plans to award contracts for the EPC sector worth SR6.7bn-6.8bn focusing on water and water reuse projects in 2012.

The conference concluded that Saudi Arabia is an excellent market for the EPC contracting community. A whole series of new projects are expected to be announced over the next 2-3 years & the need for qualified EPC contractors was high. The view from the assembled panel was that companies who are based and committed to developing their operations within the Kingdom are best placed to win work and develop long-lasting businesses in the kingdom. The organisers committed looking forward to to repeating the event in 2013 to ensure the demand for information on future EPC projects would be met.

Statistics Centre - Abu Dhabi signed a cooperation agreement with Abu Dhabi Water and Electricity Authority - (ADWEA), in order to strengthen strategic cooperation between the two sides, in response to their joint need to share statistical information in order so as to serve relevant financial and economic policies and support the emirate’s sustainable development plans.

The agreement was signed at the premises of Statistics Centre - Abu Dhabi by HE Butti Ahmed Mohammed Bin Butti Al Qubaisi, SCAD’s Director General, and HE Abdulla Saif Al Nuaimi, Director General of ADWEA, in the presence of senior officials from both sides.

The parties agreed to define a framework for the exchange and reproduction of data, including schedules and procedures for the supply of data, without prejudice to the respective competencies of the parties, which include, the right of SCAD to conduct statistical surveys or to run other statistical work within the Emirate of Abu Dhabi at its own discretion, and the right of ADWEA to compile statistics and conduct research pertaining to the water and electricity sector in the emirate.

The parties also agreed to ensure a quick and reliable access to data on the emirate of Abu Dhabi compiled by either of them and that each side will inform the other about any major revisions of reproduced data.

To ensure the completeness and high quality of water and electricity statistics, SCAD and the ADWEA will work on technical aspects, including the standardization methodologies such as the compilation methods of statistical indicators, data collection methodology, the documentation cycle, etc., and to adopt a common set of standards for the data to be exchanged, such as data format standards, semantic standards, statistical concepts and data structure definitions.

SCAD and ADWEA also stressed the need on the part of both sides to take best advantage of electronic data transmission, and are therefore seeking mutual familiarization with their respective data systems, in order to agree on appropriate solutions for sharing of information.

Upon signing of the agreement, the two sides asserted their desire to strengthen joint coordination and provide data that supports ADWEA and its affiliated companies to fulfill their mission and provide policy makers and analysts with the latest information on Abu Dhabi, so that they can take the appropriate decisions thereon.

HE Abdulla Saif Al Nuaimi, Director General of ADWEA, expressed his confidence that the agreement would prove beneficial on all aspects related to water, electricity and the energy sector in the emirate at large, in ways that would support ADEWEA’s endeavor to contribute towards development in Abu Dhabi through adoption of international standards with which ADWEA has sought full compliance since its inception in 1998.

ADWEA Director General commended collaboration with Statistics Centre - Abu Dhabi through the exchange of the latest statistics and releases, since SCAD is the official body concerned with the collection and dissemination of statistical data in the emirate, ensuring conformity with international standards and methodologies and helping to avoid duplication of data collection. HE Al Nuaimi further added that the agreement would save time, effort and cost, besides providing accurate, transparent and reliable information.

HE Butti Al Qubaisi remarked that agreement supports the excellent job done by ADWEA, pointing out that Statistics Centre - Abu Dhabi is keen to work in close cooperation with its strategic partners, including government and non-government agencies, universities and research centres and all parties concerned with statistical work in the emirate, to maximize the usefulness of the of statistical resources of Abu Dhabi Emirate and build a strong statistical system that is based on sound scientific principles and conforms to the best statistical practices, in terms of the quality, relevance, accuracy and timeliness of the statistics compiled.

Al Qubaisi praised the role played by ADWEA through its efficient and prudent management and of water and electricity resources in the Emirate of Abu Dhabi, and the provision and management of energy for the initiatives launched by Abu Dhabi government, including those involving the participation of the private sector, allowing the optimal use of these resources through proper planning and implementation of performance evaluating criteria.

The Statistics Centre - Abu Dhabi has recently signed cooperation agreements with several government departments and agencies in Abu Dhabi, with the aim of supporting decision- and policy makers and the business sector to shape their strategic plans on the basis of accurate figures and reliable statistics to bolster up development in the Emirate of Abu Dhabi at all levels and in all areas.

In line with its objective to attain certification to ISO 28000, Qatar Petroleum’s Industrial Security Directorate recently organized the first-ever ISO 28000 Lead Auditor Course to be presented in the State of Qatar.

A total of 10 QP senior staff subsequently achieved auditor status after successfully completing the intensive one-week course.

The ISO 28000 series of standards is an internationally-recognized framework for supply chain security. First published in 2007, it specifies the requirements for a security management system, including those aspects critical to security assurance of the supply chain.

As per the directives of His Excellency Dr. Mohammed bin Saleh Al-Sada, Minister of Energy and Industry and Chairman & Managing Director of QP, and under the guidance of Brig. Gen.

Abdulaziz Abdulla Ibrahim Al-Ansari, Director for Industrial Security at QP, the corporation’s Industrial Security Directorate recently launched a program to attain ISO 28000 certification as part of its continued efforts to fully ensure the security of the QP energy supply chain.

The ISO 28000 Lead Auditor Course was primarily aimed at equipping the participants with the necessary expertise to perform an ISO 28000 internal audit.

The course, which was held on April 22-26 at Fraser Suites Doha, was conducted through RABQSA International, a training and personnel certification body based in Sydney, Australia.

The Lead Auditor Course thoroughly covered all aspects of the ISO 28000 family of standards, examining the principles of Supply Chain Security Management and looked at the regulatory and legal framework related to supply chain security.

The course also highlighted the importance of conducting audits as a way to improve business processes; it enumerated the responsibilities of the Lead Auditor and Auditor; and it introduced procedures for planning and conducting ISO 28000 audits.

At the conclusion of the course, all the participants-which included six Qatari nationals-received a certificate from Mr. Abdulla Jamal Mohammed H. Al-Jabir, Manager for Security Risk Management and Administration of QP.

QP’s Industrial Security Directorate is planning to expand the course to include all Qatari Senior Security personnel on its staff. The directorate’s initiative to work for ISO 28000 certification is consistent with its overall objective for QP, to serve as a benchmark for industrial security not just in the State of Qatar but throughout the GCC.

Hajr Electricity Production Company (HAJR), owned 50% by a consortium comprising of ACWA Power, Samsung C&T and MENA Infrastructure Fund, and 50% by SEC met all the conditions precedents to achieve financial close under the senior credit facilities on Tuesday 24 April 2012, making available $2.05bn of senior credit facilities to fund the project.

The project, is being developed on a BOO (build, own, operate) basis, and is located at Qurayyah, on the eastern coast of Saudi Arabia adjacent to existing SEC facilities and will substantially increase power supplies to the Saudi power grid. It is the third of its type, and the largest IPP tendered by SEC represents another major development in the Saudi power sector to help meet the rapidly increasing power demand in Saudi Arabia.

Eng. Yousef AlOuhali, The Executive Managing Officer of the HAJR stated, from the company office in AlKhobar: “Qurayyah IPP is a Greenfield Independent Power Project with a net generation capacity of 3927 MW. The design production capacity will make it the largest IPP combine cycle gas-fired power plant in the world once completed.”

Qurayyah IPP comprises 6 identical groups of equipment, each delivering net output of 654.5 MW. Each group comprises 2 Gas Turbines (GTs), 2 Heat Recovery Steam Generators (HRSG) and 1 steam turbine. The Qurayyah IPP Plant is designed and will be constructed to comply with all applicable environmental laws, guidelines, regulations and standards as per World Bank, IFC and Saudi Presidency of Meteorology and Environment (PME).

The project will deliver 3927 MW of electricity to SEC under a 20 year Power Purchase Agreement (PPA) commencing on 30 June 2014. Siemens will provide all major equipment and electrical systems and Samsung C&T will engineer, procure and construct the project as the EPC contractor to deliver the project. Once completed, the plant will be operated by The First National Operation & Maintenance Company (NOMAC) a subsidiary of ACWA Power under a long-term Operation & Maintenance contract with Siemens providing parts and services for the gas turbines under a Long-Term Service Agreement (LTSA) with NOMAC.

The total cost of the project is $2.72bn (SR10.2bn), funded 75% by debt, which will be equally split between USD and SAR facilities. The USD facilities will include tranches funded or covered by three export credit agencies; US ExIm, KfW of Germany under a Eulerhermes cover and Kexim of South Korea. The international bank group providing funds are HSBC, Standard Chartered and SMBC. The local bank group is Banque Saudi Fransi, National Commercial Bank, Samba, Arab National Bank, Saudi British Bank and Saudi Hollandi Bank.

Paddy Padmanathan, President & CEO of ACWA Power which was the lead developer of the bidder consortium stated, “We are proud to be the Project Owner of Qurayyah IPP not only because it is the world’s largest combined cycle IPP, but most importantly the project will provide major economic advantage for the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia. First: ACWA Power was able to establish a team of developers, equipment supplier, EPC Contractor, O&M Contractor and debt facility providers who, working together were able to achieve a 15.5% lower tariff than those of the competing bidders, thus delivering more than SR2bn of savings over 20 years to the economy and the people of the Kingdom. With the doubling of the capacity, such difference increased to 21% and with the financial close under the senior credit facilities, the gap increased 5% further, thus increasing the savings even more.”

“Second: the project is designed with the highest thermal performance possible, more than 52% efficiency, or 14% more efficient than the traditional steam power plant exist in the Kingdome now which make it the most efficient in Saudi Arabia. This high efficiency will save the Kingdom more than SR2m/day in fuel cost, using the present world natural gas price. Third: this high efficiency will also save the Kingdom’s natural resources, as the project will save more than 160 million cubic feet of natural gas per day of equivalent MW production,” he added.

Under the patronage of the Heir Apparent HH Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani, Qatar’s General Electricity and Water Corporation, Kahramaa, launched the National Campaign for Conservation and Efficient Use of Water and Electricity, entitled Tarsheed, under the slogan “Keep Qatar Pulsing. Consume Wisely.”

A ceremony to launch the initiative was hosted at Katara by Dr Mohammed Saleh Al Sada, the Minister of Industry and Energy, and H.E. Eng. Essa bin Hilal Al-Kuwari, the president of Kahramaa, and was attended by several ministers and prominent business leaders, as well as specialists working in the water and electricity sector, representatives from various organisations and the media.

The ceremony opened with a speech by Dr Saleh Al Sada: “The Heir Apparent, HH Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani, is deeply invested in ensuring that this national campaign is given the full support of the people of Qatar because of its importance to the nation’s future. Efficient use of water and electricity is everyone’s responsibility. With Tarsheed, we all have the opportunity to work together and make a real contribution to realising the goals and ambitions of the Qatar National Vision 2030.”

As the national water and electricity provider, Kahramaa plays an indispensible role in Qatar’s development, working in accordance with the aims of Qatar National Vision 2030.

With the generous support of the Heir Apparent, Tarsheed has been launched by Kahramaa to increase the culture of conservation of Qatar’s vital resources. A national campaign aimed at all segments of Qatari society, Tarsheed aims to improve the efficiency of water and electricity usage at all social levels and encourage positive dialogue about how wasteful practices can be diminished.

“Preserving the country’s resources is the responsibility of every member of our society, and we all need to coordinate our efforts at every level, from business and government to educational institutions, the media, and ultimately individuals, to ensure that this campaign achieves its goals,” said Dr Mohammed Saleh Al Sada, Qatar’s industry and energy minister. He added, “I am confident that all citizens and residents will do their part to contribute to this vital initiative, which will make a significant difference in achieving the aims of Qatar’s National Vision 2030.Tarsheed forms part of Qatar’s broader goal of developing a modern nation, in line with the vision of HH Sheikh Hamad bin Khalifa Al Thani and the Heir Apparent HH Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani.”

“As a nation, we are all striving to achieve a high standard of living for ourselves, but also for our children and for their children. To realise this dream, we must come together and eliminate the bad habits that waste our essential resources and appreciate the blessings we have been given as a country. Tarsheed is a strategic initiative on behalf of the State of Qatar to formalise our national responsibility to protect the resources we have. But as consumers, we all carry this responsibility. Over the course of the past decade, Qatar’s population has more than doubled, which has vastly increased the demand for water and electricity. Our government prioritises water and electricity as an essential strategic element to support the continuous growth and development of Qatar,” Dr Mohammed Saleh Al Sada stated.

Under the auspices of the Heir Apparent HH Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani, Tarsheed will work towards fulfilling the goals and ambitions of the National Vision by reducing individual waste of resources. This in turn will relieve the pressure on Kahramaa, particularly at the peak of summer when demand is at its highest.

“Kahramaa cares about Qatar and the future of its people. With Tarsheed, we aim to develop the spirit of personal accountability in the use of water and electricity, to eliminate waste and to increase environmental awareness in Qatar,” said H.E. Eng. Essa bin Hilal Al-Kuwari, president of Kahramaa. “Tarsheed is a five-year campaign that will include a combination of advertising campaigns, awareness programmes, direct activities and outdoor initiatives. We will coordinate with several cultural and governmental organisations and the public to generate a meaningful response and reduce unnecessary pressure on Kahramaa’s networks.”

Eng. Al-Kuwari continued, “Kahramaa’s mandate is to provide water and electricity of the highest quality that meets the most exacting international standards for health, safety and the environment. Our goal is to provide utilities that enhance the way of life and business environment in the country. We are guided by the principles of transparency and integrity as enshrined in the Qatar National Vision 2030, which oversees the nation’s progression under the wise leadership of HH Sheikh Hamad bin Khalifa Al Thani and the Heir Apparent Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani.”

Tarsheed will look to connect with opinion leaders and community organisers to spread the word and extend participation as broadly as possible. Kahramaa is appealing to all Qatar’s residents to take an active role in the campaign, calling for cooperation and adherence to the water and electricity bylaws to ensure Tarsheed’s success and the realisation of Qatar’s National Vision. Tarsheed presents a significant opportunity for organisations and individuals to join a popular effort to protect the nation’s resources and examine their personal behaviour in water and electricity consumption.