Qatar spends $1.9bn as 2009 power demand rises 14%

Qatar has spent QR7bn ($1.9bn) on upgrading and expanding electricity and water networks in the nine months to September 30 this year as demand for power increased by 14 percent.

Kahramaa (Qatar Electricity and Water Corporation) said despite the sharp rise in consumption in 2009, compared to the previous year, it was capable of coping with it.

The demand for electricity was up 14 percent this year over 2008 while demands for water rose eight percent, The Peninsula reported on Thursday.

Authorities have recently expanded the capacity of the Mesaeeid plant by 1,000 mega watts (MW) as a result.

Dr Mohamed bin Saleh Al Sada, Minister of State for Energy and Industry, said the high growth in demand for water and power was due to the economic boom, the paper reported.

“This (growing demand) is one of the biggest challenges we face but we are confident of meeting this challenge successfully,” he said.

He added that a five year action plan was being devised to tackle gas emissions from power and water desalination plants.

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