Qatar Needs to Invest QR 22 Billion over 10 Years to Enhance Water Networks

Doha, March 21 (QNA) - The total investments required to enhance the water networks in Qatar in the next 10 years are roughly QR 22 Billion, HE Minister of Energy and Industry Dr. Mohammed bin Saleh Al Sada, who is also the Chairman of standing committee on water resources, said Wednesday. HE the Minister in remarks to mark the World Water Day taking place tomorrow, Thursday, said that the water sector played a greater role in Qatar's unprecedented growth, particularly in infra-structure. Al Sada pointed to the initiatives taken by the Ministry of Energy and Industry through Qatar General Electricity and Water Corporation (Kahramaa) to improve that sector and boost its productivity to satisfy the ever-growing demand for water. One of the initiatives, he said, was to set up new stations to support water networks, as well as putting plans in place for their maintenance to raise the level of service provided to the citizens and residents of Qatar. HE the Minister discussed the latest water projects, particularly the Ras Qartas project which will produce 63 million gallons of desalinated water. With the completion of the current stage of the project, the total gallons of desalinated water produced will reach 325 gallons a day, Al Sada said. He said that "ambitious" plans have been laid in order to develop water networks by adding water tanks with a storage capacity of 1,600 million gallons. Other projects, involving supplying pump lines to feed the network in the Ras Abo Fentas Plant A, have been carried out. This in addition to pumping stations in the Mesaimeer area, Al Sada said, adding that another recent project was replacing and developing water networks in Doha. HE the Minister said that Kahramaa concluded a project to control water by monitoring all water production units as well as all pumping stations and water tanks in Qatar. Kahramaa had also developed plans to carry out a project involving building larger water tanks to store more water, in order to maintain the country's water security, he pointed out, while stressing that preserving water is a joint responsibility for all. Al Sada said that the State of Qatar celebrates the World Water Day on March 22 every year. This year its marked under the title of "The World is Thirsty Because it is Hungry", due to the importance of water security. Particularly as the GCC is one of the world's regions that lacks sufficient water resources, the Minister added. The Minister also discussed the challenges that faces the region in terms of water resources; such as the depletion of underground water, the lack of rain fall and the increased demand for water due to the economic development and population growth. HE the Minister of Energy and Industry said that the United Nations made a resolution in 1992 to determine March 22 as a World Water Day, to raise awareness on the right manners to consume water and the importance of conserve it. Al Sada said that Kahramaa celebrates World Water Day by allocating a week to raise the citizens' awareness on how to preserve water, adding that careless use of water can affect sustainable development in the region. (QNA)