5 Local Companies Benefited from Umm Al Houl Operations

February 26, 2018

The CEO of Umm Al Houl Power Plant, Eng. Jamal Al Khalaf, stressed that Qatar Electricity & Water Company (QEWC) prioritizes the use of national companies and products in the completion of various stages of Umm Al Houl project. He added in a statement to «Lusail» newspaper, that about five Qatari companies benefited from the operations of the plant, notably Al-Jaber Company, which has been engaged in the project of reverse osmosis for water production, and Qatar Electric Cables Company – Mesaieed, which produces medium and small load cables, and is an agent for the French company «Lexus». In addition, iron construction works, will be handled by Qatari companies who stepped up to replace Saudi and UAE companies who withdrew from the project after the blockade. Al Khalaf stressed that the steel structures produced by local firms is of the same quality as that of the withdrawing companies.

Eng. Jamal Al Khalaf explained that the power and water plants are an opportunity for national companies to develop their capabilities, readiness and efficiency so that they can compete, pointing out that this type of projects requires expertise, capabilities and advanced technology.

Al Khalaf revealed that the sales of Umm Al Houl station will reflect on the operating profits of QEWC by the middle of this year.

A staggering 98% of the mechanical and engineering works of the plant have been completed. Umm Al Houl is one of the largest desalination and power generation plants in the region, have been completed at a cost of about QR11 billion with a production capacity of 136.5 million gallons of water per day and 2520 MW of electricity.

The power plant CEO confirmed the launch of water boilers to start the pilot operation of water distillers and steam turbines, pointing to the completion and readiness of three of the plant’s distillates out of five to receive steam and desalination. He revealed that the launch of the remaining two distillates will take place by the end of the next April. Distillates produce 78.5 million gallons of water through the process of multi-stage flash distillation. The plant currently pumps its entire 58 million gallons of water per day production capacity from reverse osmosis technology into the grid.

The Plant produces water in two distinct manners, the first through reverse osmosis technology and the second by the thermal method. This reduces the cost of water production and makes it very competitive compared to the production of water by the thermal method only, pointing out that the technology of water production through reverse osmosis is done at the stations of Umm Al Houl and Ras Abu-Fantas.

Qatar Electricity & Water Company has adopted the use of reverse osmosis technology at Umm Al Houl plant and through the expansion of Ras Abu-Fantas (A3), the largest desalination system in the region using this technology. Ras Abu-Fantas produces 36 million gallons of desalinated water in line with the finest international standards.

The Umm Al Houl station is a qualitative addition to meet the country's water and electricity needs and to serve the country's economic and urban development. Positioned at a strategic location in the economic zone near the port of Hamad, Qatar’s Gate for Foreign Trade and Food Security, the power plant is considered a great and effective contributor to the country’s development efforts.

Umm Al Houl Power Plant provides 25% of the country's total electricity needs and 30% of water needs. Qatar Electricity & Water Company owns 60% of Umm Al Houl, Qatar Petroleum and Qatar Foundation each own 5%, while Mitsubishi TEPCO owns the remaining 30%.