Qatar to have surplus power in the summer

Qatar will have excess power.

Qatar, the world's largest liquefied natural gas (LNG) exporter, is expected to have up to 7,000 megawatt (MW) power capacity by this summer, an official from the Qatar Power Company (QPC) said on Tuesday.

The small Gulf Arab state expects to have a surplus of power which could allow it to export up to 1,100 MW of electricity to its neighbours through the Gulf power grid, said Abdulsattar al Rasheed, executive managing director of Qatar Power Company during a MEED conference.

He said: "We will have a surplus of supply this year and we will be delighted to export power to other Gulf countries through the grid."

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by Amena BakrThis email address is being protected from spam bots, you need Javascript enabled to view it on Tuesday, 30 March 2010
POWER SURPLUS: Qatar is expected to have up to 1,100MW of surplus power which would allow it to export electricity to its neighbours. (Getty Images)
POWER SURPLUS: Qatar is expected to have up to 1,100MW of surplus power which would allow it to export electricity to its neighbours. (Getty Images)

Qatar, the world's largest liquefied natural gas (LNG) exporter, is expected to have up to 7,000 megawatt (MW) power capacity by this summer, an official from the Qatar Power Company (QPC) said on Tuesday.

The small Gulf Arab state expects to have a surplus of power which could allow it to export up to 1,100 MW of electricity to its neighbours through the Gulf power grid, said Abdulsattar al Rasheed, executive managing director of Qatar Power Company during a MEED conference.

He said: "We will have a surplus of supply this year and we will be delighted to export power to other Gulf countries through the grid."
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In January, Rasheed said that Qatar could only export 600 MW through the Gulf grid.

He added: "We have a power plant with a capacity of 2,000 MW coming online this summer and this will provide the extra capacity."

Another 2,730 MW plant called Ras Laffan C, at the port of Ras Laffan, would start up in 2011.

Rasheed said: "By 2011 we expect to have a total capacity of 9000 MW."

Power demand this year is expected to be 6-8 percent higher compared 2009, he said.

Qatar has one of the highest growth rates in the region, fuelled by the startup of a number of giant projects to export gas.

Qatar Power Company is 55 percent owned by Qatar power plant operator the Qatar Electricity and Water Company (QEWC). (Reuters)

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