Japan-led group wins Qatar desalination deal

Japan's Mitsubishi Corporation has said that a consortium with Toyo Thai Corporation Public Company (TTCL) Limited has won a contract to build the Ras Abu Fontas seawater desalination plant in Qatar.

The desalinated water produced by the plant will be supplied to Qatar utility Kahramaa and the plant will be operated by Qatar Electricity & Water Company (QEWC).

Mitsubishi Corporation said in a statement that it will work with Hitachi Zosen Corporation to install seawater desalination plant facilities, while TTCL will be responsible for the remainder plant facilities such as seawater intake and boiler installations.

The project is expected to be completed and commissioned by June 2015, the statement added.

Qatar’s economy has seen remarkable growth due to the abundance of natural gas and other resources and securing water and electricity have been one of Qatar’s important issue.

To fulfill the expected future demand for water, a number of new infrastructural development projects are being undertaken by Kahramaa and the construction of the Ras Abu Fontas desalination plant is part of the plan to meet this demand.

Last year, Qatar said it plans to invest over $5bn by the end of 2013 to boost its power and potable water production capacity.

The gas-exporting country already has 30 percent more power generation capacity than it needs, allowing it to sell some to neighbours like Kuwait and Bahrain, with new projects offering the potential for more exports in a few years.

New projects include a 2,250 megawatt power plant, two desalination plants with a total capacity of 194 million gallons per day, and large water reservoirs.